Human rights not just abstract slogans, say China and LAC scholars

Human rights are not just abstract slogans but a vital indicator of social development, experts from China and Latin American and Caribbean states emphasized during an online seminar on Tuesday night.

The seminar, held to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, was jointly organized by the Metropolitan University for Education and Work in Argentina and the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China. Nearly 40 scholars from 16 countries — among them China, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela — participated in the discussion.

The participants unanimously highlighted that human rights extend beyond legal provisions or international declarations. They represent the coming together of collective destiny, individual dignity, social justice and institutional responsibility in practice. Scholars stressed that human rights must be fully integrated into decision-making processes across all sectors in both China and the LAC states.

Li Haomin, associate research fellow at the Institute of Latin American Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said China's approach emphasizes holistic individual progress under a people-first philosophy. "Every country must explore a human rights path suited to its historical, cultural, social and economic context," Li said.

Marcos Cordeiro Pires, associate professor at UNESP-College of Philosophy and Sciences, Marília campus, discussed structural challenges in the region. He pointed to the historical influence of US hegemony, reinforced through mechanisms such as the Monroe Doctrine, and criticized recent US policies for undermining human rights, often supported by far-right digital networks. Pires emphasized that advancing human rights in LAC states remains difficult without the rule of law, fundamental freedoms and democratic space.

Mexico has made significant progress in human rights protection, and modern Mexican humanism is defined by tangible action, said Agustina Fernández Asensio, a teaching assistant at the National University of La Plata. The state has made unprecedented investments in pensions for the elderly, universal scholarships, free healthcare, adequate housing, and food sovereignty, she added.

Scholars also proposed launching a Sino-Latin American exchange program on human rights. The initiative aims to facilitate the exchange of 30 young scholars between the regions, with each participant conducting residency research for one to six months.

The seminar highlighted a shared commitment to viewing human rights as practical, actionable and central to social development, reflecting ongoing dialogue and cooperation between China and LAC countries.