Universal Human Rights Essay - 1932 Words

Throughout the years, the People’s Republic of China (hereinafter, the PRC) has remained notorious for its explicit defiance of international human right norms. These norms, codified in the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights (hereinafter, the UDHR), define human rights to be â€Å"inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family† (The Universal Declaration). While this declaration seeks to cement a set of universal human rights in the international community, it fails to take into account the idea of cultural relativism and its effects on different cultural perspectives of human values. For the purpose of this essay the UDHR will be used to explicitly state instances where China has†¦show more content†¦This misconception of a universal standard is rooted in the spread of popular western consumer goods globally, this does not always equate to the spreading of values, such as universal human ri ghts. Samuel Huntington rejects these misconceptions in his article The West Unique, Not Universal stating â€Å"the argument that the spread of pop culture and consumer goods around the world represents the triumph of Western civilization depreciates the strength of other cultures while trivializing Western culture† (29). In actuality, the most distinct differences between the PRC and the West can be seen through their fundamental treatment of their people. Despite the PRC having â€Å"pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms† (The Universal Declaration) it will be argued that in reality, they fail to adhere to these universal standards. The PCR’s ideology can best seen through the age-old sentiment that â€Å"man exists for the state rather than vice versa† (Donnelly 77), while the UNHR explicitly states in Article 21 that â€Å"[t]he will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government† (The Universal Declaration). Donnelly argues that, â€Å"this Chinese conception of social order denies the very idea of human rights (77). It is because of this backward version of the idea that in order for a government to be considered legitimate, theShow MoreRelatedUniversal Human Rights And Universal Rights1312 Words   |  6 PagesUniversal human rights are those that apply to everyone no matter where they come from, who they are or what they do. They are held by the individual person and protect them from other people and/or collectives (Bell,1999). Human rights instruments found today are also compared to those in religions and ancient civilisations that have contributed towards the understanding of human dignity (James, 2007). There are many arguments on whether human rights are universally achievable and if they have alreadyRead MoreHuman Rights : Universal Rights1679 Words   |  7 PagesHuman rights are universal rights that we are entitled to. It is a freedom that is guaranteed based on the principle of respect for an individual. As mentioned in the preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, human rights are a â€Å"recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all member of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world† (Kent, page 80). When asked what our rig hts are, we tend to get different answers andRead MoreHuman Rights : Universal And Inalienable Rights919 Words   |  4 Pagesthat all humans are entitled to universal and inalienable rights. 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This is due to them being the exact same for all human beings anywhere in the world. One cannot acquire human rights because of where they come from, but because they are a member of the human race. Nobody can lose those human rights, nor can they be taken away for whatever the reason may be. Together, we have the right to express ourselvesRead MoreThe Universal Declaration Of Human Rights892 Words   |  4 PagesHuman rigths is an essential component of a tolerant and individually satisfied society. They are created to defend people’s dignity, equality and liberty. However, for thousands of years people lived with no garanteed rights, until 1948, when United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But is the Universal Declaration of Human Rigths really universal to all states and hu mans living in them? I am going to argue if Human Rights should or should not be unically adapted to different