International Human Rights, Cultural Relativism

Abstract

The discourse of international human rights laws between universalism and the cultural relativism counterpart, has reemerged quite significantly in recent years not just in Saudi Arabia but also in other neighbouring countries. This is not confined to the middle east, and also affects countries which are facing huge societal changing around the world, similar to those emerging in the Kingdom. The notion of international human rights to be applied universally is deeply stated in the universal declaration of human rights (UDHR), and other core IHRLs, particularly in norms are related to culture. The basic element of the universalists is international human rights laws are applicable to every society and every individual in everywhere, regardless of their culture, language, believe and other social differences. in other word, potentially it could has seen practically from relativists, as one approach of international human rights laws should be valid everywhere. On the other hand, cultural relativists claims that every society should have their own human rights laws, which represent people’s needs and dealing with their human rights violations in their ways, without external intervention in their culture, which could cause more damage of individual’s rights. The idea of relativity is deeply stressed by the Kingdom, when there is a belief that International Human Rights Law conflicts with Saudi’s culture and traditions. Therefore, this research tries to revise the two theories towards human rights laws, universalism and cultural relativism as they are understood in the context of Saudi Arabian culture and traditions.