Towards the Application of Universal Human Rights Declaration to Cultures and Religions
Pages : 126-132Download PDF
Among the various human rights stipulated, culture and religion are some of the most sensitive topics that cause difficulties in addressing other forms of rights; the difficulty associated with it is such that it affects a vast majority of other rights. In this article, we shall focus on the universality of human rights with special attention to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The coercive and the democratic test for the universality of human rights are the major arguments presented for the justification of the human rights as a document that transcends regional, cultural and religious sentiments. Human dignity is identified as the ultimate implication of UDHR with specific reference to intercultural and inter-religious dialogue it enhances. The assessment of these arguments through analytical method is further supported by the optimistic approach that would focus on the mutual guarantee on the part of religious and cultural groups in order to enhance a peaceful coexistence that the universal declaration of human rights envisaged.
Keywords: Universality, Religion, Culture, Individuality, Collectivity, Human dignity.