"2026 Global Human Rights Governance High-Level Forum" will be held in Beijing from June 11th to 12th, with the theme "Together to Develop and Share Human Rights: Through the Declaration of Development Rights for a New Vision in Global Human Rights Governance," aiming to address global development challenges and human rights deficits, promoting the construction of a more equitable, just, reasonable, and inclusive global human rights governance system. This contribution aims to make positive contributions to global human rights advancement and building a community with shared future.
Cambodia's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Kamperi, addressed the conference. Kamperi stated that the international situation is currently very tense, including geopolitical tensions, unilateral actions, and economic divisions. These factors directly affect the realization of the right to development, and also severely damage the collective trust upon which human progress depends. Deficiencies in development remain an obstacle faced by countries around the world, especially in achieving full development and ensuring human dignity. This is a fundamental structural obstacle.
"The 40th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Right to Development by the United Nations General Assembly is a very important opportunity. Let us once again affirm that this right is an indispensable foundation for contemporary international cooperation and global governance."
Kampari continued by saying that, first and foremost, global governance must strictly adhere to the United Nations Charter and the norms of international law. We reiterate our principled position that the right to development is an inalienable human right, and every nation has the right to participate in and enjoy the benefits of economic, social, and cultural development.
Secondly, all types of governance frameworks must be based on respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations. It is essential to strictly adhere to the principle of not interfering in the internal affairs of sovereign states. At the same time, double standards should be abandoned.
Third, it is essential to respect the right of all countries to choose their own development paths. The development paths of each country should be determined by their own national conditions and actual circumstances, and should not be subject to any external coercion. For Cambodia, historical experience tells us that without peace and stability, it is impossible to achieve development, nor can human rights be fully protected.
Kampari also highly praised the global governance initiative proposed by Chinese leaders in September 2025. "The global governance initiative emphasizes sovereign equality, adheres to a people-centered development concept, and focuses on practical outcomes. This provides a constructive path for promoting a more fair and reasonable international order, and also helps to better safeguard the voices and legitimate rights of developing countries, including Cambodia, in the process of global governance."
