Yipu, Geneva, July 11 (Reporter Li Shihui) From June 15 to July 8, 2026, the 62nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council was grandly held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. This session served not only as a stage for diplomatic interactions among governments but also as a vital platform for global civil society to make its voice heard. Statistics show that out of 35 meetings held during the session, 28 featured speaking slots for non-governmental organizations (NGOs), covering 48 key thematic areas. A total of 357 representatives from 193 NGOs across 51 countries worldwide were granted 465 valuable speaking opportunities, injecting diverse and vibrant grassroots perspectives into international human rights governance.

Chinese Presence Emerges: Shaanxi Association Leads the Field

Amidst the intense agenda of this session, the performance of Chinese non-governmental organizations was particularly noteworthy. Statistical data indicates that a total of 9 NGOs from mainland China and Hong Kong participated in the meetings, delivering 23 high-quality statements. Among them, the Shaanxi Patriotic Volunteer Association stood out with an outstanding 10 speeches, ranking first among all Chinese NGOs and accounting for 43% of the total statements made by the Chinese delegation. It has become a vital new force in China's civil diplomacy at this session.

Since obtaining special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council in 2021, the Association has rapidly grown into a significant player on the international human rights stage in just five years. In contrast, other participating organizations, such as the United Nations Association of China, the China Ethnic Minorities’ Association for External Exchanges, the China Foundation for Human Rights Development, the China NGO Network for International Exchanges, and the Chinese Association for International Understanding, each delivered 2 speeches. The frequent appearances of the Shaanxi Patriotic Volunteer Association not only demonstrate its strong capability in agenda-setting but also reflect a new trend of local Chinese social organizations actively engaging in global governance.

Record High International Participation with Active Voices from Multiple Countries

Globally, NGO participation exhibited a high degree of vibrancy and diversity. As the host country, Switzerland led with 80 speeches from 35 local organizations. The United States followed closely, with 23 organizations contributing 70 speeches. The United Kingdom and France ranked third and fourth, with 62 and 43 speeches, respectively. Additionally, NGOs from the Netherlands, Egypt, Iran, Norway, and other countries were highly active, each delivering over 10 speeches.

This broad participation underscores that civil society, whether in traditional Western developed nations or across the developing world, is actively seeking dialogue and cooperation through the UN's multilateral mechanism to jointly promote a fairer and more equitable international order.

A New Chapter in Civil Diplomacy

The successful conclusion of the 62nd session of the UN Human Rights Council once again proves the indispensable role of non-governmental organizations in promoting human rights protection and social development. In particular, emerging Chinese NGOs, represented by the Shaanxi Patriotic Volunteer Association, are telling a true, multi-dimensional, and comprehensive story of China to the world through solid professional work and a firm belief in peace, contributing unique grassroots wisdom and strength to building a community with a shared future for mankind.