Universal human rights vs cultural & religious variations: an African perspective

Abstract

Abuse of human rights in Africa seems to be commonplace under the guise of culture and religion. This research explored the intersection between human rights and culture in the context of the universal human rights regime. Perceptions of differences in the interpretation of human rights were assessed with a view to finding an interface with the universal regime. The study builds on secondary data analysis using academic journals, books, and online publications. In contemporary international relations, the key question on human rights seems to be whether it is the individual rights or collective rights that should have primacy in polity governance. What is striking is that most African domestic constitutions recognize the rights of individuals. However, the non-application of this has led to discrepancies between theory and practice and this paradox is a source of bad governance. The paper concludes that the best radar to ensure protection of citizens’ rights would be the implementation of universal rights in Africa.