Third Annual Lecture
How Universal is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
The Future of Human Rights in the 21st Century
Professor Hilary Charlesworth
Director, Centre for International Governance and Justice
Professor of International Law and Human Rights, Australian National University
Professor Hilary Charlesworth at the Third Annual Lecture.
Prof. Joseph Camilleri discusses the meaning of dialogue at the Lecture.
An appreciative audience at the 2008 Annual Lecture.
Professor Charlesworth is one of Australia's leading experts on human rights and international law. She has formerly taught at various prestigious international universities, including Harvard Law School, New York University Global Law School, and Université de Paris, as well as the chair of the Australian Capital Territory Government's inquiry into an ACT Bill of Rights, and worked closely with a variety of non-government organisations such as the Victorian Foundation for the Survivors of Torture.
2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Yet despite the milestone, Prof Charlesworth argued there was not enough to celebrate regarding the global implementation and maintenance of human rights. On the one hand, the West has implemented many policies that are contradictory to its supposed support for universal human rights. On the other, many Asian, African and Middle-Eastern states claim not all human rights are culturally applicable.
Despite such controversy, Prof Charlesworth defended the notion of universal human rights. She agreed that the document was outdated, for example, the use of the term 'brotherhood', and the failure to mention rights of Indigenous peoples and those with disabilities. However, Prof Charlesworth said that universal human rights 'embody a commitment to a flourishing human life' that is relevant to all humanity. She argued that universal human rights can accommodate cultural sensitivity; indeed human rights standards can only make sense in particular contexts. However, Prof Charlesworth said when 'culture-like exceptions' are proposed, we should scrutinise 'whose culture is at stake, who the interpreters of the culture are and the political agenda behind the culture claim.'
- Supporting organisations
- City of Darebin