Universal or Culturally Specific?

Against the allegation that human rights are a purely western concept that evolved in the historical context of the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, Bielefeldt maintains that human rights should be considered universal. He points out to the various declarations of the United Nations – and that they are legally binding for all parties that have ratified them.

"First of all, it is important to acknowledge that various United Nations conventions of human rights have been signed and ratified by a huge majority of the member states, and, in fact, by states from all kinds of different cultural regions."

"Human rights are universal, but..."

However, Bielefeldt concedes that there are differing views regarding particular human rights.

"There are still objections raised against some of the issues of human rights. For instance, the question of gender equality is such an issue that still needs to overcome many cultural hindrances. The same has to be said about freedom of religion. Here as well there are some conservative Islamic states that have their difficulties with it."

Bielefeldt sees the universal concept of human rights as a global learning process that western democracies are also undergoing.

"I think that it is fatal when one believes that we in the west stand for freedom of expression and that in Islamic societies people rather generally support the protection of religious values on the expense of freedom of expression," Bielefeldt says.

Look closer

"In Iran, to give an example, there are journalists and authors who risk life and limb for freedom of expression. For this they are highly respected in their societies."

It is important to take a closer look, says Bielefeldt.

It is evident that in Islamic societies, even in very conservative ones, there are numerous people who stand up for human rights.

The professor, who also counsels the human rights commission of the Roman Catholic Church, called "iustitia et pax" (Justice and Peace) – calls attention to the fact that it also took the Christian Church a very long time to recognize human rights as an important element for the advancement of culture.

Abuse in the name of human rights

Nowadays Christian churches are among those institutions that caution against the danger of political abuse of human rights, for instance for economic or strategic benefits – or even to justify war.

"This is an abuse of human rights. Meaning, not everyone who speaks out for human rights is serious about it. And therefore what is needed here as well is discerning attention."

Interview conducted by Hajo Goertz

© Deutsche Welle 2006

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