Understanding a Culture of Human Rights

This paper is an attempt to understand the culture of human rights where human rights are continually met generation after generation, and the rich diversity of the world cultures are respected. Human Rights Culture which is based on the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a culture of respect for human rights and it ensures the balance between rights and responsibilities. It is noted that for the effective protection of human rights, cultural aspects are also necessary together with legal frame works and institutions, that is, human rights awareness among the general population is necessary for the creation of such a culture. The importance of human rights education in achieving human rights culture is identified and discussed. A human rights culture is criticized as having the consequence of creating a homogenous society potential for assaulting people's freedoms. It is argued that most of the criticisms against human rights culture are out of a misconception of the term ‘culture’ in human rights culture.