In Argentina, questions around human rights are becoming harder to ignore. With political shifts underway and key freedoms under pressure, space for open and informed dialogue is more important than ever. Rather than wait and watch, Chevening alumni are leading the conversation.
With support from the Chevening Alumni Programme Fund (CAPF), the alumni-led project Enhancing Human Rights in Argentina brought together journalists, legal experts, and policymakers for two high-impact events exploring freedom of expression and the growing influence of artificial intelligence. These sessions opened new channels for institutional dialogue and placed alumni at the centre of timely national conversations.
“These events weren’t just about discussion. They were about building bridges—between people, sectors, and ideas.”
The project began as a response to several individual proposals from Chevening alumni working in the human rights space. Instead of pursuing them separately, the local Chevening team worked with alumni to develop a unified programme—one that could encourage collaboration and connect alumni with external organisations and experts tackling the same issues.
The result was a joint effort focused on two of the country’s most pressing challenges: the role of the press in defending democracy, and the protection of human rights in the age of AI. Both events were delivered in partnership with national and regional institutions, drawing participants from across Argentina and the wider region.
The first event, held in November, was co-organised with the Argentine Journalism Forum (FOPEA). It focused on freedom of expression—an issue under increasing strain both nationally and across Latin America. Journalists, experts, and alumni gathered at the British Residence for open discussion. The timing, alongside FOPEA’s annual journalism congress, helped attract a diverse range of participants from across the country and beyond. A UK-based expert in artificial intelligence also joined the event, offering insight into how digital technologies are reshaping media, trust, and access to information.
In December, a second event took place in partnership with the MERCOSUR Institute for Public Policy on Human Rights (IPPDH). This session brought together regional experts to explore the ethical use of AI and its implications for human rights. A closed-door roundtable enabled State Party representatives to share ideas on implementing MERCOSUR’s human rights declaration on artificial intelligence. The conversation then opened up to a wider audience through a public keynote and networking session at the British Residence.
Both events gave Chevening alumni the chance to engage with leaders and decision-makers—and each other. Alumni helped design and deliver the events, serving as speakers, moderators, and facilitators. That visibility, and the access it enabled, opened doors to new partnerships and future collaborations.
The mix of local and international voices added real depth. Just as importantly, the sessions created space to meet new people and strengthen relationships already in place. Many participants left wanting to stay connected and keep the conversation going—through follow-up events, working groups, or new alumni-led projects.
Chevening alumni from Guatemala and Honduras have joined forces to tackle one of Central America’s most pressing ecological challenges: the pollution of the Motagua River. We find out more.
As the world races to understand the implications of AI, Chevening alumnus Nikhil Naren is on a mission to ensure technological innovation doesn’t outpace the protections it requires.
A Chevening alumni initiative in Cần Thơ, Vietnam, is empowering secondary school students with hands-on experience in renewable energy, nurturing future sustainability champions.