Judicial balancing of cultural relativism and universalism of human rights in post-Apartheid South Africa
Date
2022
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Western Cape
Abstract
Globalisation did not only bring about major political, social and economic changes; it also strengthened the global reach of universalism of human rights. The concept of universal human rights is presently reconstructing the world order and reshaping national constitutions worldwide. Universalism is based on the ideology that human rights should be recognised universally and applied to all cultures. In opposition, cultural relativism posits that the notion of universal human rights is a Western idea that should not apply to all cultures of the world, as every culture has its own moral standards that are perceived as acceptable or unacceptable in the specific contexts of the people identifying it. The concept of universal human rights has been embodied in constitutions of almost all countries. In particular, the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa has been influenced by a universalist approach to human rights.
Description
Magister Legum - LLM
Keywords
African customary law, Bill of rights, Human rights, Post-Apartheid, South Africa