BRICS Principles and Approaches to the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights

Intergovernmental associations, such as BRICS, face challenges related to ensuring the efficiency and legitimacy of their functioning. One of the key conditions for their successful operation is a clear substantive competence that defines the functional scope of the association. BRICS structures its activities around the “three pillars”: politics and security, economy and finance, as well as cultural and humanitarian ties. Cooperation in the field of promoting and protecting human rights holds particular significance for the association, considering BRICS’ goal of building a more just, democratic, and balanced multipolar world order. The objective of this study is to identify the role and significance of BRICS principles in the development of international cooperation, particularly in the field of human rights protection. To achieve this goal, the study sets out to analyze the competence structure of the association and determine the influence of general and particular principles of international law on BRICS’ activities. A comprehensive approach is applied, including comparative legal analysis, systematization of regulatory documents, and interpretation of official declarations. The historical-legal research method has made it possible to trace the evolution of BRICS principles and assess their impact on the formation of a modern human rights protection stance. The research findings indicate that BRICS not only strengthens its role as a platform for aligning the interests of developing countries but also contributes to the transformation of international law towards greater inclusivity and respect for the diversity of legal cultures. The principles enshrined in the Kazan Declaration help restore balance in the international human rights system and may serve as a foundation for the development of universal norms ensuring equality and a non-discriminatory approach to human rights protection. The expansion of the association may lead to the formation of new international legal customs.