Culture And Human Rights: The Asian Values Debate In Context

This report examines the issue of culture in the context of international human rights law. The author reviews the progression of identity politics and considers how "sometimes culture seems like something to be protected by international human rights law, while other times it is seen as in opposition to it". The essay uses three case studies, namely, women's human rights, the rights of indigenous peoples and the Asian values debate to explore how the term "culture" is, and has been, utilised by each group in their human rights discourse. Part I turns to the debate over women's human rights for its use of culture as oppositional to human rights, whereas Part II reviews the indigenous rights movement for its use of human rights law to safeguard culture. Part III, which is the main focus of the essay, looks at the Asian values debate to demonstrate how culture functions both as a means of challenging the prevailing human rights regime and as a means of generating international co-operation for economic development.