As global discussions on human rights are mostly shaped by Western narratives, experts are increasingly drawing attention to the approaches of countries such as China.
Evandro Menezes de Carvalho, a law professor at the Federal Fluminense University in Brazil, said China and some other countries prioritize economic development and poverty eradication as pivotal to their human rights agendas.
"Without societal stability and economic growth, individual freedoms cannot be truly developed," Carvalho told China Daily at the First China-Latin America and Caribbean States Roundtable on Human Rights in Rio de Janeiro on Sept 10.
While Western nations often emphasize individual freedoms, essential rights related to peace and development are frequently overlooked, he said, adding that peace is essential for both societal stability and individual freedom.
"When we talk about peace, it's not just the absence of war but also the absence of fear. For instance, criminality and violence in cities can undermine peace just as effectively as war does," Carvalho said.
He added that the West often focuses on individual freedoms without adequately addressing economic and social stability, while China underscores economic and cultural development as core elements of human rights.
Basic survival needs, such as food and security, must be met before individuals can fully exercise their rights and thrive, he said. In his view, a society with strong education, healthcare and low crime rates creates the conditions necessary for people to demand and achieve greater rights.
He praised China's success in eliminating poverty. In February 2021, the country announced that it had eradicated absolute poverty among its 1.4 billion citizens.
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Carvalho also criticized what he perceives as the hypocrisy of Western powers advocating for human rights while engaging in military conflicts.
"Certainly, every country, including China, the US and those in Latin America, has significant strides to make in advancing human rights. However, let me be clear — a country that promotes war is in no position to speak credibly about human rights," he said.
The professor called for a global dialogue on human rights, noting that the roundtable discussions between China and Latin American and Caribbean countries have revitalized the conversation.
There is a growing understanding that each country has its own unique human rights agenda, which must be respected, he said, stressing the importance of promoting multilateralism and fostering international dialogue.
"For Latin America, our primary focus is on reducing crime and inequality. We are deeply concerned about social divisions and are firmly opposed to foreign intervention."
In regard to the 10th anniversary of the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum, Carvalho described it as a "milestone" in efforts to collaborate on shifting the Western-dominated discourse on human rights, emphasizing the need to consider each country's unique situation.
Fernando Estenssoro, an academic at the Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of Santiago de Chile, said human rights have long been used as a tool of control, dominated by the United States and its allies.
"They use human rights as an excuse to attack countries they deem enemies," he said.
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Despite being established on principles of respect, freedom, justice and equality for all, the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations, has been heavily politicized and used geopolitically, Estenssoro said.
Its 30 articles are often manipulated by certain states to justify violations of the very principles they are intended to uphold, he said. "We must expose how these rights have been, and continue to be, systematically violated by the Global North and its closest allies, who conceal their power-driven interests under the guise of defending human rights."
Potential solution
Jorge Eduardo Malena, director of the Asian Affairs Committee at the Argentine Council for International Relations, said China's efforts to enhance the international human rights system serve as a potential solution for global human rights governance.
"China's influence and commitment to global human rights have grown, especially following its evolving role in the international system after the Cold War," Malena said.
Despite existing power imbalances favoring Western countries, China has been an advocate for a multipolar world and the democratization of international relations, he said.
"China has ratified numerous international human rights treaties and made significant contributions to the global economy, becoming a major trading partner and infrastructure builder."
China's approach to global human rights focuses on reforming the international system rather than replacing it, he said, and its emphasis on social and economic rights provides a unique perspective, with a focus on equality and the protection of disadvantaged groups.
Many countries in the Global South share China's view that the international order requires reform. As a result, there is increasing support from these countries for China's initiatives to improve the global human rights system.
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"The current historical stage of international power transition needs China to take action to protect human rights and offer a positive contribution to the community," Malena said.
