During the past decade, several leaders and intellectuals in East Asia have challenged the notion that human rights are universal.
Instead, they argue that human rights privilege Western values and are not well suited for Asia.
Many voices from within Asia disagree, as pro-human rights and democracy groups abound within the region.
Universality Debate
There have been disagreements over which human rights are truly universal since the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights （UDHR） in 1948.
At that time, Western democracies stressed the universality of civil and political rights, while the Communist bloc favoured economic and social rights.
The Vienna Declaration of 1993 reaffirms that all human rights are 'universal, indivisible and interdependent and interrelated.'
However, it does allow for some divergence in the application of these rights, as it recognises that 'the significance of national and regional peculiarities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind.'
East vs. West
In the 1990s, several prominent East Asian leaders argued that human rights are culturally relative to Western societies.
At the forefront of the so-called 'Asian values' debate is Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the prime minister of Malaysia, and the former prime minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, along with several other public intellectuals in the region.
Although their arguments vary, advocates of Asian values maintain that there are clear and often sharp differences between the values and traditions in the East and in the West.
They argue that Asians tend to value community and Westerners value the individual. Whereas Asians appreciate order and harmony, Westerners appreciate personal freedom.
Other so-called 'Asian values' include saving and thriftiness, insistence on hard work, respect for leaders and family loyalty.
Instead, they argue that human rights privilege Western values and are not well suited for Asia.
Many voices from within Asia disagree, as pro-human rights and democracy groups abound within the region.
Universality Debate
There have been disagreements over which human rights are truly universal since the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights （UDHR） in 1948.
At that time, Western democracies stressed the universality of civil and political rights, while the Communist bloc favoured economic and social rights.
The Vienna Declaration of 1993 reaffirms that all human rights are 'universal, indivisible and interdependent and interrelated.'
However, it does allow for some divergence in the application of these rights, as it recognises that 'the significance of national and regional peculiarities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind.'
East vs. West
In the 1990s, several prominent East Asian leaders argued that human rights are culturally relative to Western societies.
At the forefront of the so-called 'Asian values' debate is Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the prime minister of Malaysia, and the former prime minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, along with several other public intellectuals in the region.
Although their arguments vary, advocates of Asian values maintain that there are clear and often sharp differences between the values and traditions in the East and in the West.
They argue that Asians tend to value community and Westerners value the individual. Whereas Asians appreciate order and harmony, Westerners appreciate personal freedom.
Other so-called 'Asian values' include saving and thriftiness, insistence on hard work, respect for leaders and family loyalty.