The Arab, European, Inter-American and African perspectives on understanding human rights; the debate between 'universalism' and 'cultural relativism'

Abstract

The article begins with a description of how the term 'human rights' originated, and a consideration of how 'universal' it is possible for human rights to be, when comparing the differing views of human rights in existing cultural systems. There follows a discussion of the continual argument between the 'universal' approach towards human rights with the diametrically opposed perspective of 'cultural relativism.' There is a contrast between the African and Islamic priority of 'duties' within the community and the western approach of individualistic 'rights'. The second part of the article deals with the contemporary Arab, European, Inter-American and African UN Commissions on Human rights. The article concludes whether it is possible to establish a system which could intertwine both these two approaches, by using some level of compromise and mutual respect.