Title: ARTICLES : TRANSCENDENT VALUES OF UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHTS
Abstract: What are universal human rights? Why has the universality of human rights been challenged by all forms of particularity and relativism, especially cultural relativism and Asian values for over the last twenty years? Do non-Western cultures, such as Oriental, Latin American and African ones, accept or reject universal human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? Those questions need to be addressed thoroughly from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Thus, the ultimate goal of this paper is to explore the sustainable and solid values of universal human rights in the UDHR as not only a highest aspiration, but also a common heritage of their cultures, religions, and traditions of thoughts. By utilizing literature review, legal and comparative methods, the paper points out that as a global language of our world of diverse cultures and ideologies, the universal human rights are the foundation of peace, security, tolerance, and human development. At the same time, the paper urges that all forms of claiming the so-called cultural relativism, such as Asian-values model, could undermine and challenge the legitimacy of universal human rights in non-Western societies including Asian nations. The paper is to revisit the appreciation of universal human rights embraced from the human beings’ transcendent values, such as dignity, tolerance, humanity, and freedoms that are embedded in all cultures.
Publication Year: 2015
Publication Date: 2015-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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