ABSTRACT

The ethics of cultural relativism versus universal human rights is an ongoing debate in the realm of international human rights. This is particularly relevant in the context of gender issues in Africa, where traditional cultural practices often conflict with modern human rights standards. Cultural relativism is the idea that a person's beliefs and values should be understood within the context of their own culture, rather than being judged by external standards. This approach recognizes the diversity of human experiences and the importance of preserving cultural traditions. However, this approach can also be used to justify practices that violate human rights, such as female genital mutilation, child marriage, and honor killings. In these cases, the cultural relativist argument clashes with the principle of universal human rights, which asserts that certain rights are inherent to all human beings regardless of culture or context. This paper recognizes the tension between cultural relativism and universal human rights in addressing gender issues in Africa is complex and its multifaceted nature. It also recommends that cultural practices that perpetuate gender inequality and discrimination must be challenged and transformed. On the other hand, this must be done in a way that is respectful of cultural traditions and does not perpetuate colonialist or neocolonialist attitudes. The challenge is to find a balance between respecting cultural diversity and upholding universal human rights standards. This requires a nuanced approach that takes into account the complexity of gender issues in Africa, and recognizes the agency and voice of African women and gender non-conforming individuals in shaping their own futures. The approach the researcher will use in confronting this problem is the philosophical method of analysis.