Introduction : human rights and cultural pluralism : what role for international law?

Abstract

That human rights are universal has been a tacit assumption since the adoption of the UN Charter and the 'Universal' Declaration of 1948. That culture is 'particular', on the other hand, is shown by the plurality and infinite variety of cultures as expressed in different languages, world views, religions, artistic expressions and forms of knowledge that shape the social life of people in different parts of the world. However, the question of universality of human rights and particularity of cultures cannot be framed within the opposition between human rights and cultural relativism. On the contrary, universality of human rights can well coexist with cultural pluralism, which is an inescapable dimension of the human condition.