Human Rights as Relative or Universal

Paper Summary:

This paper addresses how human rights remain an issue of concern in the modern day. It discusses the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and looks at the current debate regarding UDHR's cross-cultural applicability. The paper then critically analyzes universalist and relativist approaches to the application of human rights.

From the Paper:

"The instigators of the UDHR recognised the presence of western bias (Oh, 2005), however failed to correct it. The presence of this bias is one contributing factor for why human rights are not universally applied. Cross cultural diffusion of human rights requires an understanding of culture (Jinks, 2006), the clash of cultural values with African, Asia and Islam prohibits effective transfer of western human rights norms (Goodhart, 2003). The west has also been criticised for failing to practice its own norms, executing criminals, allowing, at least partially, the practice of euthanasia (Renteln, 1988) and doing little to alleviate racial, social and political unrest stemming from inequality."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Amnesty International Report (2002). Amnesty International Publications. Document available http://rights.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/POL10/001/2002/en/dom-POL100012002en.pdf. Accessed 01/04/08.
• Beetham, D. (2002). Democracy and human rights: contrast and convergence. Seminar on the Interdependence Between Democracy and Human Rights. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Document available www.unhchr.ch/democracy/D-Beetham.pdf accessed on 03/04/08 at 21.35.
• Charney, E. (1999). Cultural Interpretation and Universal Human Rights: A Response to Daniel A. Bell. Political Theory, Vol. 27, pg. 840-850.
• Donnelly, J. (2003). Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice, Ithaca: Cornell University Press, Chapter 6, pg. 89-106.
• Engle, K. (2006). Foreword: Representing Culture, Translating Human Rights. Texas International Law Journal, Vol. 41(3), pg. 385-387.

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