Overview

This new book examines the relationship between culture and respect for human rights. It departs from the oft-made assumption that culture is closely linked to ideas about community. Instead, it reveals culture as a quality possessed by the individual with a serious impact on her ability to enjoy the rights and freedoms as recognised in international human rights law in meaningful and effective ways. This understanding redirects attention towards a range of issues that have long been marginalised, but which warrant a central place in human rights research and on the international human rights agenda. Special attention is given to the circumstances induced by cultural differences between people and the laws by which they are expected to live. The circumstances are created by differing tools, know-how and skills (cultural equipment), diverse settlements on matters that are ultimately indifferent from the standpoint of cosmopolitan moral law (adiaphora), and conflicts having their source in conflicting doctrinesethical, religious and philosophicaladdressing deep questions about the ultimate purpose of human life (comprehensive doctrines). Each of the circumstances shifts the focus with the aim of securing effective and adequate protection of individual freedom, as societies become increasingly diversified in cultural terms and issues arise of access to laws and public institutions, exemption from legal obligations for reasons of conscience, fair resolution of conflicts having their source in differing ethical, religious and philosophical outlooks, and, excuse for breach of law in case of involuntary ignorance.

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9781841135069

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Reviews

With a fresh and well balanced battery of concepts, the Author suggests and defends an original human rights approach to culture, an approach not necessarily grounded on Law...the book offers a well balanced theoretical framework in order to clarify the meaning of right to culture. Manuel Nunez Global Law Books May 2006 ...welcomingly refreshing as it is not often that we come across a book that integrates the rights of culture and human rights..This is an important book for our present times. Kasturi Moodaliyar Law and Politics Book Review March 06 ...an original approach to human rights and culture. It presents an interesting and valuable contribution to the debate on cultural rights...Academics, but also politicians and others working in the field of culture and rights can certainly learn a great deal from her analysis. Yvonne Donders Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights Vol. 26/1 (2008) ...Almqvist presents her thesis clearly and cogently...this is a valuable contribution to the debate in the area... John O'Dowd Public Law 2007

With a fresh and well balanced battery of concepts, the Author suggests and defends an original human rights approach to culture, an approach not necessarily grounded on Law!the book offers a well balanced theoretical framework in order to clarify the meaning of right to culture. Manuel Nunez Global Law Books May 2006 ...welcomingly refreshing as it is not often that we come across a book that integrates the rights of culture and human rights..This is an important book for our present times. Kasturi Moodaliyar Law and Politics Book Review March 06 ...an original approach to human rights and culture. It presents an interesting and valuable contribution to the debate on cultural rights!Academics, but also politicians and others working in the field of culture and rights can certainly learn a great deal from her analysis. Yvonne Donders Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights Vol. 26/1 (2008) ...Almqvist presents her thesis clearly and cogently...this is a valuable contribution to the debate in the area... John O'Dowd Public Law 2007

Author Information

Jessica Almqvist is at the Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Diálogo Exterior, Madrid.

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