Human rights are universal. Yet at the same time, there are enormous differences among human beings. Today, in countries such as the Netherlands, some of these differences are at the centre of many debates relating to human rights.

This lecture will explore what it means to realize universal human rights in contexts of human diversity. How can we deal with diverging interpretations of human rights between majority and minority cultures?  How should we address situations of conflicting rights? Where should we draw the line between respect for minority cultures and the need for cultural change in the name of human rights?​