Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | August 21, 2025 — At the Readers’ Forum held ahead of the Human Rights Forum in Addis Ababa, Cllr. Jeddi Mowbray Armah, Deputy Minister for Legal Affairs at Liberia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered a compelling reflection on the book Xi Jinping: On Respecting and Protecting Human Rights, emphasizing the relevance of China’s human rights philosophy to the Global South.
A Window into a Distinctive Philosophy
The volume, compiled by the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, was described by Armah as “not only a book of political thought… but a window into a distinctive human rights philosophy.” He praised its central proposition: that human rights are universal in value but diverse in practice, urging nations to pursue dignity, justice, and equality in ways that reflect their unique histories and cultures.
“For many of us in the Global South,” Armah noted, “this principle resonates deeply.” He cautioned against the imposition of imported models, advocating instead for locally grounded approaches that evolve through dialogue and experience.
People-Centered Development as Human Rights
Armah highlighted China’s achievements—lifting over 700 million people out of poverty, expanding education and healthcare, and building the world’s largest social security system—as examples of human rights in action. “The greatest human right is the right to a happy life,” he quoted, aligning this view with African priorities that place subsistence and development at the heart of rights realization.
He drew parallels with Liberia’s own efforts to strengthen governance and build resilient communities, asserting that “without food, education, and shelter, other rights remain out of reach.”
Democracy Beyond the Ballot Box
The Deputy Minister also explored the concept of “whole-process people’s democracy,” which integrates citizen participation across all stages of governance. He described it as a valuable contribution to global debates on democracy, shifting focus from electoral formalities to continuous public involvement and tangible outcomes.
“This approach insists that democracy should be judged not by form alone, but by whether it serves the people’s interests,” Armah said.
Toward a Shared Future
In closing, Armah endorsed President Xi’s call for a more inclusive global human rights governance system—one that respects diverse paths and promotes shared prosperity. He emphasized the need for partnerships based on equality and mutual respect, echoing aspirations across Africa, Asia, and Latin America to reform global systems that have long favored the few.
“The challenge before the world is not whether we agree that human rights matter,” Armah concluded. “It is whether we can create the conditions in which they can be realized for every person, in every society.”
The Readers’ Forum served as a prelude to the Human Rights Forum, where leaders and thinkers from across the globe are expected to continue these critical conversations on dignity, development, and global cooperation.
