Photo taken on Feb. 22, 2021 in Brussels, Belgium shows a screen displaying the 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) held in Geneva, Switzerland.(Photo: Xinhua)

Some 32 countries have called on the world to strengthen international cooperation and multilateralism at the 46th session of Human Rights Council and urged the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to engage in constructive dialogue and engagement in order to perform its functions objectively and impartially.

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages around the world, threatening people’s right to life and right to healthcare, severely affecting economies, society and people’s livelihoods, and exacerbating inequality. The hard-won development gains of the world, premised on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development，may be reversed, said Chen Xu, head of the Chinese Mission to the UN in Geneva.

Chen noted that China is deeply concerned over the aggravation of racism, xenophobia, economic inequality and other related atrocities in some countries, and called on the international community to attach special importance in addressing these problems. 

“We hope that the High Commissioner and the OHCHR will continue to take substantive measures in these areas,” Chen said. 

Chen urged the OHCHR to enhance its constructive dialogue and engagement, redouble its efforts to gain trust and cooperation from member states and conduct its work in a fair and objective manner.  

Global Times