The 2026 Forum on Global Human Rights Governance, which opened on Thursday in Beijing, offers a precious platform for international dialogue and cooperation facing the challenging world situation today, said attending guests.
The two-day forum has brought together more than 400 participants from over 100 countries and international organizations, including the United Nations.
In addition to an opening ceremony and a plenary session, the event will also feature five sub-forums to discuss topics including the human rights implications of the Global Governance Initiative, safeguarding the right to development in the age of AI: Emerging challenges and opportunities, and modernization and people's free and comprehensive development, according to an earlier announcement of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Amid global challenges such as climate change and inequality, participants from the Global South are calling for a more balanced approach that puts development and people's well-being at the center.
Climate change, conflict and widening inequality continue to reshape global development challenges – and the human rights agenda.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the forum, Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Miao Deyu said the focus has returned to a key question: how development can better deliver human rights for all.
"This year's forum focuses on the theme of 'joint development, shared human rights.' In response to changes in the global human rights landscape and in reflection of the international community's common call, it provides a valuable platform for in-depth exchanges," he said.
For many Global South countries, development remains the foundation of improving livelihoods and protecting basic rights.
"In this time, a forum like this offers an opportunity for us to have dialogue together about the importance of human rights. Because without promoting human rights and inclusive, sustainable, and participatory development, we cannot really achieve peace. Without peace, we cannot secure human rights and development," said Surya Deva, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development.
Participants from developing countries at the forum stressed that development is central to addressing human rights challenges.
They also called for stronger international cooperation to reduce inequality and close development gaps.
"[We face] droughts, climate change and we have limited resources. We learn that without development, without water, without housing and food security. Otherwise [we will] remain out of reach. So development for us is not a luxury. It is a pre-condition to dignity," said Jorge Alberto Da Silva Borges, former Cabo Verdean Minister of Foreign Affairs.
"Overall, these discussions benefit everyone. This forum on global human rights governance is especially important at a time when the world faces growing inequalities. I believe participants will use these meetings to learn from one another and find common ground to promote development in the field of human rights," said Misenga Monika Malissa, minister counsellor of the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in China.
Attendees said that the right to development remains essential to addressing global human rights challenges. They called for deeper cooperation to bridge divides, reduce inequality and ensure development benefits are more widely shared.
Forum on global human rights governance offers platform for dialogue, cooperation: attendees
