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Monday, December 13, 2004
Oledan: Cultural identity and human rights
By Radzini Oledan
Spice of Life
'Drawing on compatible practices and common values from traditional cultures would enhance and advance human rights promotion and protection.'
IT IS doubly interesting to delve into human rights in this age of globalization where peoples and cultures are being brought together, voluntarily or involuntarily by the increasing integration of markets, emergence of new regional political alliances, and remarkable advances in telecommunications.
As a result, we witness an increase in the disparity in wealth and access to resources, and the stark reality of violence, poverty and unemployment, homelessness and displacement of identity.
Culture is our primary source of identity. It is a source for a great deal of self-definition, expression and sense of group belonging. But how do we define and express who we are today? How do we ensure cultural diversity and integrity? How do we assert as a people?
Then there's cultural relativism, the assertion that human values, far from being universal, vary a great deal according to different cultural perspectives. Some would apply this relativism to the promotion, protection, interpretation and application of human rights. In other words, according to this view, human rights are culturally relative rather than universal.
Human rights which relate to cultural diversity and integrity encompass a wide range of protections, including: the right to cultural participation; the right to enjoy the arts; conservation, development and diffusion of culture; protection of cultural heritage; freedom for creative activity; protection of persons belonging to ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities; freedom of assembly and association; the right to education; freedom of thought, conscience or religion; freedom of opinion and expression; and the principle of non-discrimination.
The argument of cultural relativism often leads to the assertion that traditional culture is sufficient to protect human dignity, and therefore universal human rights are unnecessary. Furthermore, the argument continues, universal human rights can be intrusive and disruptive to traditional protection of human life, liberty and security.
We submit that traditional culture is not a substitute for human rights; it is a cultural context in which human rights must be established, integrated, promoted and protected. Human rights must be approached in a way that is meaningful and relevant in diverse cultural contexts.
There is an increased need to emphasize the common, core values shared by all cultures: the value of life, social order and protection from arbitrary rule. These basic values are embodied in human rights.
Traditional cultures, therefore, should be recognized as partners to promote greater respect for and observance of human rights. Drawing on compatible practices and common values from traditional cultures would enhance and advance human rights promotion and protection.
This is the essence of cultural diversity, respect and tolerance, which we have yet to fully appreciate and integrate in our systems.
Email at diwatangyen@yahoo.com
(December 13, 2004 issue)
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