Can Human Rights Be Universal and Have Respect for Cultural Relativism?
opinion Kigali — The universality of human rights and what can be borrowed from a particular cultural heritage to affirm or further those rights need not be mutually exclusive. This is certainly the case with the Gacaca courts as they currently apply in Rwanda. By definition, Gacaca are traditional councils and tribunals made up of elders to resolve conflict and administrate justice. Gacaca literally means ‘a resting and relaxing green lawn in the Rwandan homestead’ where family members or neighbours met to exchange views on issues directly affecting them.
