Comparative Analysis and Legal Reflection on the Boundaries of Human Rights Due Diligence in the Supply Chain

As global supply chains become increasingly lengthy and complex, human rights due diligence in the supply chain is becoming a controversial focal point in the accountability of multinational corporations. In recent years, legislative practices in the field of human rights due diligence have shown a trend from voluntary soft law toward mandatory hard law, and from corporate due diligence for their own operations towards extended due diligence for the entire supply chain. However, there is a divergence in national practices regarding the extent to which human rights due diligence should extend along the supply chain and the manner in which it should be incorporated into domestic legal policies. International soft law interpretations surrounding the boundaries of human rights due diligence in the supply chain are decentralized, posing risks of interpretation diversification, boundary blurring, and procedural formalization, as well as risks of misinterpretation and misuse. Meanwhile, some countries and regions are vigorously promoting mandatory legislation on human rights due diligence in the supply chain, which has profound implications for the stability of global supply chains and the international economic and trade order. Against this backdrop, it is crucial to explore the reasonable boundaries of human rights due diligence in the supply chain. Instead of applying a one-size-fits-all approach,the rationality of legal factors and the complexity of practical factors should be considered, applying context-specific measures based on the varying degrees of linkage between companies and negative human rights impacts in the supply chain. China should be particularly wary of the “chilling effect” of mandatory legislation on human rights due diligence in the supply chain, attaching great importance to national supply chain security and international supply chain competitiveness.Additionally,China should actively promote the implementation of voluntary human rights due diligence under the United Nations framework, and accelerate the enhancement of China's discourse power in the international rule-making process in the fields of industry and commerce as well as human rights.

The Connotations of the Constitutional Clause on Human Rights Protection From the Perspective of Foreign-related Rule of Law

The inclusion of the human rights clause in the Chi-nese Constitution is the core normative manifestation of the constitu-tionalization of human rights,and points to the relationship between international law and the Constitution in the sense of positive law.The inclusion of the human rights clauses in the Chinese Constitution itself is an inherent part of the development of China’s socialist constitution,and socialism has already contributed valuable concepts and practices of human rights protection to the modern world in its early stage.The constitutionalization of human rights protection does not necessarily lead to the superiority of international law over the constitutional order of a country,but rather to the convergence of international law and domestic law through the constitutional order.The relevant rules of international law will be effective only when they are transformed into domestic law through the Constitution and the human rights clause in the Constitution.Correspondingly,the domestic legal order is brought into line with the international legal order through the Con-stitution and its human rights clause.Behind the system of fundamen-tal rights in the constitutional order is the value foundation of the en-tire legal system.The advancement of foreign-related rule of law has brought new opportunities for China’s judicial practice to further pro-mote the protection of human rights.In the future,we should further integrate the human rights values embedded in socialism into China’s constitutional practice,enhance human rights protection around the country,and take a more active part in global human rights gover-nance.

Revisiting the Spirit of the UDHR and Discussing Human Rights Development——Summary of Views from the Seminar Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

On December 4,2023,the China Society for Human Rights Studies hosted a seminar in Beijing commemorating the 75^(th) Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.Participants discussed topics such as the significance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,China’s theories and practices in respecting and safeguarding human rights,the three global initiatives and global human rights governance,human rights protection in the digital age,and telling Chinese stories of human rights in the new era.The discussions led to a broad consensus and achieved positive results.

Human Rights Connotations and Its Legal Protection in the Harmonious Coexistence between Humans and Nature

Promoting the unity of human nature and sociality in practice is a fundamental path dependence for achieving people's well-rounded development.Within the context of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature,the practice of the unity of human nature and sociality is allowed to be truly implemented,and people's well-rounded development moves from possibility to reality.Strengthening the protection of human rights for people's well-rounded development in the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature not only requires the expansion of the connotations of environmental rights from“the right to a healthy environment”to“the right to a beautiful environment”,but also necessitates the formation of a collaborative framework between environmental rights and development rights.For legal responses to the expansion of the connotations of environmental rights,it is necessary to implement such expansions in environmental legislation,enhance the underlying principles,and make progress in the development of systematic environmental legislation simultaneously.Regarding the legal promotion of the synergy between environmental rights and development rights,it is essential to follow the guidance of the“Two Mountains Theory,”take the coordinated functions of environmental and traditional legal departments as the basis,and build a legal mechanism for the realization of the value of ecological products and services.

The Development of Human Rights Protection in Cross-border Personality Rights and Tort Conflict Laws

Personality rights are basic rights related to human dignity in the concept of human rights protection,and respect for personality rights is the basic prerequisite for safeguarding other human rights.Human rights protection exerts a profound impact on the value of legislation and enforcement practices of private international laws in the field of cross-border personality rights infringement in various countries,which is mainly manifested in the integration of substantive justice and the humanistic care concept of protecting the rights of vulnerable groups into formal justice,and expands the development space of human rights protection ideas in cross-border personality rights and tort conflict laws.the diversity of human rights protection values determines that cross-border personality rights infringement may lead to conflicts between personality rights and other basic rights,such as freedom of speech.to reconcile such conflicts,a workable method is to prioritize personality rights protection in accordance with the hierarchy of rights theory in the value judgment of public order reservation or to clarify the limits of the right holder’s tolerance obligation through the limited application of the principle of proportionality.China’s current cross-border personality rights and tort conflict law can optimize the protection of the rights of vulnerable groups by diversifying the options of available legal methods,and establish a balancing mechanism between personality rights and freedom of speech,so as to improve China’s legal protection system for human rights in the field of foreign-related civil and commercial affairs.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MAN AND NATURE IN TRADITIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CONCEPTS OF CHINA AND WEST

As the process of economic globalization gathers momentum, dialogue between different cultures has become extremely important. There should be dialogue between the Chinese and Western cultures under the principle of equality and mutual respect and understanding to increase consensus for mutual development.

On the Relationship Between Human Rights and Sovereignty

The relationship between human lights and sovereignty is a key theoretical and practical issue that has aroused heated debate in the international human lights field. What are the viewpoints and positions of Western countries and developing countries on this issue？ What is the deeply rooted reason for this debate？ How can the relationship between the two be properly handled？ This article will analyze these questions.

On the Relationship between Human Rights Protection and Economic Development

British Economist Angus Maddison said that eco nomic development is a recent phenomenon inhuman history. Although human species have lived on the planet at least 2.5 million years, economic development only appeared around the 1850s. In pursuit of economic development, not all nationalities have been equally lucky. Among more than 200 countries in the world, only dozens of countries are devel oped. Onethird of the world＇s total population of 6.5 billion are living in poverty. In both developing and developed countries, the wealth gap is often obvious. Therefore, eco nomic development is the goal of each country, the aim of each politi cal party, and the wish of all people. However, economic development usually baffles people. As a result, understanding the relationship be tween economic development and human rights protection is a matter of urgency.

The Challenges Posed by Autonomous Weapon Systems to Human Rights and Humanitarian Concerns and Relevant Legal Responses

By 2050,autonomous weapon systems may potentially replace humans as the main force on the battlefield,as per predictions.The development of autonomous weapon systems poses risks to human rights and humanitarian concerns and raises questions about how international law should regulate new technologies.From the perspectives of international human rights law and international humanitarian law,autonomous weapon systems present serious challenges in terms of invasiveness,indiscriminate killing,cruelty,and loss of control,which impact human rights and humanitarian principles.Against the backdrop of increased attention to the protection of human rights in China,it is necessary to clarify the existing regulatory framework and fundamental stance regarding autonomous weapon systems and proactively consider and propose countermeasures to address the risks associated with such systems.This will help prevent human rights and humanitarian violations and advance the timely resolution of this issue,which affects the future and destiny of humanity,ultimately achieving the noble goal of universal enjoyment of human rights.

The Concept of Human Rights in the Constitution and Its Functional Significance

To practice the constitutional provision that “The state respects and protects human rights”, we should clarify its connotation. The understanding of human rights is a natural requirement and the key. In domestic academia, human rights are considered natural rights and interpreted as “moral rights that everyone should enjoy as a human being”, hoping to provide theoretical support for the development of the system centered on the basic rights of citizens in China.Although it reveals the universal moral connotation of human rights, it does not cover the normative connotation of human rights as common international standards. Therefore, it is impossible to fully clarify the functional significance of the provision. It is conducive to scientifically clarifying the relationship between human rights and basic civil rights,better improving the institutional protection of human rights in China,and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind to interpret human rights as common international standards that everyone should enjoy for human dignity based on the development of the international legal order under the Charter of the United Nations since the end of the World War Ⅱ.

The Socialist Rule of Law with Chinese Characteristics and Human Rights Protection

Law is the fundamental method of governance and the rule of law symbolizes modern civilization. The socialist rule of law is the rule of law rooted in the Chinese tradition, and designed and led by the Communist Party of China(CPC). It is not only a tool for government, but also a driver of social progress. Meanwhile, the Chinese human rights system is also designed by the CPC. Both concepts—the socialist rule of law and the human rights system——are different from the West in terms of theory, path and systems. Human rights are the fundamental values of and the ultimate goal pursued by the rule of law; and the rule of law is the recognition of and guarantee for human rights. Efforts must be made to advance legislative, administrative and judicial protection of human rights.

On the Positioning, Contents, and Methodology of Human Rights Law Study

The ideal model of human rights law studies shall be one that is open and comprehensive. On the basis of normative legal studies, it shall pay more attention to and respond to political, economic, and social development in a wide range of human rights issues. These studies should attempt to find practical solutions to concrete problems. Human rights law should be a relatively independent legal discipline, and it should be a problem-oriented object of study. Regarding the research methodologies, human rights law could encompass all aspects of legal studies, and go beyond legal them to some extent to encompass the influence of other disciplines.

The Development of International Human Rights Law and the Chinese Contribution to the Global Human Rights Cause

Prior to World War II,human rights were mainly considered to be matters that came under the domestic jurisdiction of each state.The United Nations Charter,adopted in 1945,includes human rights provisions.The adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 that marked the initial formation of international human rights law.Today,the world has formed a relatively comprehensive system of international human rights law and mechanisms.Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China,and in particular after she introduced reform and opening-up policy in 1978,the Chinese government has actively participated in international human rights causes.To date,the Chinese government has ratified 26 human rights conventions and fulfilled the obligations required by these.China has put forward and continually enriched human rights theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics,emphasizing the importance of state sovereignty in safeguarding human rights and the resolution of human rights controversies through dialogue,thereby contributing to the global human rights cause.

A Summary of Views from the Symposium on “Comprehensively Advancing Rule of Law and China's Human Rights New Development”

The symposium on "Comprehensively Advancing Rule of Law and China's Human Rights New Development" was successfully held on April 11,2017 at Southwest University of Political Science and Law The symposium was organized by the China Society for Human Rights Studies and hosted by the Institute of Human Rights at Southwest University of Political Science and Law Representatives from the Commission of Legislative Affairs of the NPC Standing Committee,the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council,the Ministry of Public Security,the Ministry of Justice,the Supreme People's Court,the Supreme People's Procuratorate and other relevant departments,and experts and scholars from human rights research institutes and colleges and universities conducted in-depth discussions and exchanged views on topics such as the "general theory of rule of law and human rights","scientific legislation and the progress of China's human rights cause","administration by law and the progress of China's human rights cause","judicial justice and the progress of China's human rights cause","concept of rule of law and the progress of China's human rights cause" among other issues

Forty Years' Construction of Rule of Law and the Legalization of Human Rights Protection in China

A market economy requires the individual rights of citizens be protected, and that the exercising of those rights be regulated, whose realization depends on the legalization of human rights protection On the one hand, individual rights must be protected by law On the other hand, a law-based society needs to be built so the boundaries of individual rights are clear, the exercising of those rights are regulated, conflicts between rights can be resolved through the courts, and the personal infringement of others’ rights and the overall interests of the society is prohibited by law During the 40 years of China’s ref orm and opening-up in China, the promotion of the legal protection of human rights mainly lies in three aspects: first, the important role of the rule of law plays in protecting human rights has been clarified; second, the four steps of the rule of law(scientific legislation, strict law enforcement, judicial justice and observance of the law by all Chinese citizens) have been strengthened to safeguard human rights fully and effectively; third, the Chinese human rights system under the rule of law has gradually been aligned with international norms.

Persist in Law-based Protection of Human Rights and Improve the Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights by the Rule of Law

General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech on China’s Path of Human Rights at a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on February 25,2022.Persisting with the law-based protection of human rights and improving the mechanism for the protection of human rights by the rule of law are essential for unswervingly following the development path of human rights in China.The improvement of the mechanism for the protection of human rights by the rule of law necessitates adhering to the principle of respecting the dominant role of the people and removing the institutional obstacles in rule of law protection of human rights;to comprehensively strengthen the implementation of the Constitution,advance the filing and examination of the Constitution,and safeguard the authority of the Constitution;to accelerate the theoretical innovation of human rights and the construction of the discipline system,the academic system and the discourse system of human rights that meet the needs of the new era in China,and to actively participate in and contribute to the global governance on human rights,etc.Improving the mechanism for the protection of human rights by the rule of law can provide a solid protection for people enjoying a better life.

Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Research Center Peking University Law School

In order to implement the stipulation in the National Human Rights Action Plan （2012-2015） requiring the addition of no less than five national human rights education and training bases by 2015, the appraisal and selection meeting for the second group of national human rights education and training bases was held on March 17, 2014 in Beijing.

From Power to Rights: Interpreting Inscribing “To Respect and Protect Human Rights” in the Amended Criminal Procedure Law

Human rights are one of the widely acknowledged value systems in the international ,community. The core of human rights lies in the life and dignity of human beings. On the one hand, criminal procedure law is related to life and freedom, which is the concern of everybody. On the other hand, it involves direct dialogue between national power and citizens＇ fights.

Southwest University of Political Science and Law Human Rights Education and Research Center

I. Overview 1. History The Southwest University of Political Science and Law devel- oped from the Southwest People＇s Revolutionary University, which was founded in 1950. Based on the former university and the law departments of Sichuan University, Chongqing University, Guizhou University, Yunnan University and Chongqing Finance and Economics College, the Southwest College of Political Science and Law was established.

Advocating Human Rights Protection by Rule of Law, Supporting Human Rights Undertaking with a Giant Hand——Deep Condolences to Dear Former President Luo Haocai

Chairman Luo Haocai served as the president of CSHRS from 2007 to 2016.During those nine years, he built deep friendships with researchers on human rights.Because President Luo served as vice chairman of the National Committee of CPPCC for a long time, we were used to calling him "Chairman Luo." Chairman Luo was a leader with strategic and overall awareness, a scholar-official, an elder with a young mentality, and a motivator and protector of young people.