Stronger partnership forged by advancing human rights

In a world fraught with economic challenges, climate change and political instability, a new report highlights a growing partnership between China and Latin America and the Caribbean, or LAC, as a beacon of hope for human rights development.

The report, titled "Common Goals: China-Latin America and the Caribbean Cooperation on Human Rights Development, the Present and the Future", outlines significant progress in poverty reduction, social equity and environmental protection across both regions. By prioritizing development as a cornerstone of human rights, China and LAC are advancing global human rights governance, particularly for the Global South, while opposing the political manipulation of these fundamental rights.

The report opens by addressing global challenges that have placed human rights under increasing strain. In response, China and LAC, which together represent nearly one-third of the world's population, are emerging as critical partners in tackling these issues. Their collaboration is more than a bilateral effort as it serves as a model for human rights development globally, especially within the Global South.

However, " (i) n UN human rights instruments and mechanisms, Global South countries remain underrepresented, with limited voice and influence", the report said, adding that some countries politicize and weaponize human rights, using them to create barriers to meaningful dialogue between countries, and even as tools to impose unilateral sanctions, which undermine human rights development, violate national sovereignty and pose a serious threat to global peace.

By working together, China and LAC are aligning their diverse cultural and social contexts to advance on shared human rights goals. This partnership allows both to navigate the complexities of global human rights discourse while promoting more equitable governance.

China and LAC have both made notable advancements in human rights, the report said. China has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, contributing more than 70 percent to global poverty reduction efforts since its reform and opening-up period. By last year, its per capita GDP had exceeded $12,000, laying the foundation for future human rights improvements.

LAC countries have also made strides in human rights through development initiatives. Brazil has pledged to achieve zero deforestation by 2030 through an Ecological Transformation Plan, highlighting the region's focus on environmental rights — a key component of modern human rights discourse.

Sustained dialogue

Through sustained dialogue, China and LAC have forged a strong consensus on fundamental human rights issues. Both agree human rights must be developed according to national conditions, with a particular emphasis on the rights to subsistence and development as prerequisites for realizing other human rights. This understanding underscores the importance of the Global South's role in shaping international human rights governance.

The collaboration has moved beyond rhetoric. In 2022, trade between China and LAC reached nearly $500 billion, a 35-fold increase since 2000. China has consistently been LAC's second-largest trading partner and third-largest investor, establishing a solid economic foundation for future human rights cooperation, the report said.

The two are also contributing to the international human rights agenda by advocating a more inclusive and fairer global governance system. Both oppose the manipulation of human rights by powerful countries for political gain and call for impartiality in United Nations human rights organizations, the report said.

In conclusion, the report frames China-LAC cooperation as a pivotal force in creating a more equitable global human rights landscape.