3.4 Universalism, relativism and human dignity

Health professionals will, due to their profession, increasingly encounter references to human rights. A clear link between the profession and human rights is unquestionable. To understand the significance of human rights, an understanding of the underlying concepts is needed. Universalism and relativism are the two most important concepts in terms of understanding the application of human rights to policies and practices. Analyzing and criticising these concepts will be crucial to develop the cultural knowledge and sensitivity about human rights.

Read more on:

Reichert E: Human rights: an examination of universalism and cultural relativism. Journal of Comparative social welfare, 22(1), p. 23-36
http://socialwork.siuc.edu/resourcecenter/RJCS_A_152282.pdf

Sjnezana Bilic: Cultural relativism, universalism and women’s rights
http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/staff/homepage.asp?Name=snjezana.bilic#ResearchPublications

http://ccn.aacnjournals.org/cgi/content/full/24/4/30

http://www.professionalnursing.org/article/PIIS8755722305001468/fulltext

http://ccn.aacnjournals.org/cgi/content/full/24/4/30

http://bepolitical.blogspot.com/2008/12/pitting-universalism-against-cultural.html