Introduction

Founded in August 1994, the China Foundation for Human Rights Development (CFHRD) is a national public-raising foundation, registered with the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People’s Republic of China and with the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee as its business supervisor. It embraces special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and is a member of joint session of the National Human Rights Action Plan of China. As a professional human rights NGO and public welfare institution, the CFHRD has long been committed to international exchanges and cooperation in the field of human rights, organizing and implementing human rights public welfare activities, carrying out human rights advocacy, research, education and training programs, promoting the development of China’s human rights cause, and enhancing communication and understanding among Chinese and foreign civil societies on human rights issues.

The CFHRD conducts exchanges and cooperation with human rights organizations, foundations and think tanks in various countries by organizing international forums, seminars and visits. It has actively participated in the United Nations Human Rights Council. Since 2021, it has consecutively participated in 12 sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council, with 39 speeches delivered by experts, many written reports submitted and seven side events organized on the theme of “Seminar on Mutual Learning among Different Civilizations and Promotion of Human Rights”. As of 2024, it has hosted 12 sessions of Sino-American Dialogue on the Rule of Law and Human Rights, 12 sessions of China-Germany Seminar on Human Rights and seven sessions of China-Germany Forum on the Development of Human Rights, two sessions of China-Japan Friendship and People-to-people Exchange Forum, 13 sessions of Historical Perceptions and Peace Forum in East Asia, three sessions of Global Foundation Summit Forum, three sessions of International Seminar on Human Rights and Museology, two sessions of International Seminar on Environment, Development and Human Rights and the seminar on Commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and five sessions of Beijing Forum on Human Rights co-sponsored with the China Society for Human Rights Studies. At the same time, the Foundation has organized delegations to dozens of countries, including the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and South Africa, to conduct in-depth exchanges with their parliaments, government agencies, and organizations, foundations and think tanks in the field of human rights, and to enhance mutual understanding.

The CFHRD proactively develop the advantage of human rights public welfare organizations and participates in human rights protection and public welfare charity extensively. It has launched and established a series of special funds with distinctive human rights characteristics, such as the Public Welfare Fund for Promoting Citizens’ Health, the Public Welfare Fund for Rural Revitalization, the Fund for Charity and Support without Borders, the Fund for Culture in a Literary China, the Fund for the Promotion of Civilization Practice in a New Era, and the Fund for Relief of Juveniles Involved in Lawsuits, and has implemented a series of effective public welfare projects in the fields of epidemic combating and disaster relief, rural revitalization, culture and education, medical and health care, protection of the rule of law, and care for specific groups. It has achieved good social effects.

The CFHRD actively carries out research on human rights theories, popularization of human rights knowledge, and education and training programs. It has participated in the discussion and research of important documents such as the National Human Rights Action Plan of China, held seminars on human rights theory, carried out human rights advocacy, edited and published books such as the China Human Rights Library, Human Rights Development and NGOs, produced documentary films, and held human rights training courses for NGOs and the media, so as to create a favorable atmosphere for respecting and protecting human rights in the whole society.