THE IMPACT OF CULTURE, RELIGION AND MORALITY ON HUMAN RIGHTS: AN APPRAISAL

Abstract

Culture, Religion, Morality, and Human Rights are indispensable concepts in jurisprudence and international law. The essence of Universal Declaration on Human Rights is to ensure that everyone lives harmoniously, in spite of their divergent cultures, ethnic groups, religion or different moral beliefs. A society alone is likely to have different rules that make it difficult to know the exact impact of any one of them. Rights are a concept that embodies the current culture’s ideas as to how people should be treated. Cultural rights should not be rejected because they differ from other human rights. This paper is an evaluation of the impact of culture, religion, and morality on human rights. The paper utilized secondary data such as textbooks, statutes, judicial decisions It was the findings of this paper amongst others that culture, religion, morality, human rights are basic concepts in international law and universally. Furthermore, there are beneficial and adverse impacts of culture on human rights. Again, religions are human rights are intertwined; religion also impacts positively and negatively on human rights. Besides, moral rights/ beliefs, existed before the statutes, and Constitution emerged. Moral rights are harmonious with human rights, as they impose an obligation on all and sundry to uphold as well as protect. Consequently, every person has a right to dignity. There should be a more appropriate and adequate framework for the implementation and enforcement of human rights. In was recommended that culture, morality, and religion should not be jettisoned completely. There should be pragmatic approach in harnessing them with human rights. As culture, religion, morality and human rights have inherent qualities with each other.