Cultural Theories Of Human Rights

Human Rights, Activism and Cultural Beliefs

Does human rights activism have cultural boundaries? Are there situations where human rights activism is detrimental to important social relations and genuine cultural beliefs?

1. Introduction

Any one person, organ, or institution cannot claim the definition of human rights. This however does not prevent us from defining the term. It has been referred to the basic rights that inherently and fundamentally belong to every person. Legally they are freedoms and rights that are established by international agreements and customs and impose varying standards on conducts of all nations. Some of these include the right to life, right to political, social, and economical determination, right to freedom of

There is of course a series of undergoing discussions on the international platform on the same . In evaluating if there are specific boundaries which human rights operate own, several concept (Universality, relativity etc.) in human rights need to be evaluated. This takes into account the fact that human rights has developed and has undergone changes and adoption by new states. This also has to consider the fact that there are many diverse culture, cultural beliefs, and nations in the world . For instance, the cultural values of the west are an exact copy of those in Asia and moreover capitalist societies have different view of human rights when compared to socialist and the cultures of the two societies are diverse. Moreover, historical evolution in many countries and continents are different making the counties have some varying conceptualization of human

3. Universality and Relativity

3.1. Universality

When one looks at the wording of many international instruments on human rights, most of them portray that notion of universality. Thus, the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a sacred 30 article-d document that enumerates economic, political, and social rights that we are entitled to. This universal nature is supposed to transcend and apply regardless of whom we are- since we are all human . Using that rationale, the universal nature of human rights is unquestionable .

Forged after the disastrous Second World War, the instrument was designed to ensure that such evils would not see light again. Humanity of all people all over the world was to be respected by all nations without any special exceptions . “with no distinction given to their race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other