"the West" ususally refers to cultures of Western European origin/influence.
Led by Eleanor Roosevelt, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN in 1948 with Saudi Arabia, among the 48 states approving.
from a resource site:
Quote:
Although the Declaration, which comprises a broad range of rights, is not a legally binding document, it has inspired more than 60 human rights instruments which together constitute an international standard of human rights. These instruments include the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which are legally binding treaties. Together with the Universal Declaration, they constitute the International Bill of Rights.
The Declaration recognizes that the "inherent dignity of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world" and is linked to the recognition of fundamental rights towards which every human being aspires, namely the right to life, liberty and security of person; the right to an adequate standard of living; the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution; the right to own property; the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the right to education, freedom of thought, conscience and religion; and the right to freedom from torture and degrading treatment, among others. These are inherent rights to be enjoyed by all human beings of the global village -- men, women and children, as well as by any group of society, disadvantaged or not -- and not "gifts" to be withdrawn, withheld or granted at someone's whim or will.
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I guess "the west" tried to learn something after WWII. And the Saudi rationalization league is conveniently denying their own rich legacy of oppression, with its religious police, public decapitations, stoning, and other miscelaneous crimes. Preventative measures all, of course,forced on them because of the coruptive influence of that darned West. Right to education! Freedom of opinion! Freedom of religion! Yikes. Dangerous stuff, and not the Saudi way.