Human Rights

I demonstrate in this chapter that Africa can be understood from the conceptualizations of the continent in the Human Rights discipline. The chapter specifically looks at Africa by employing particular examples drawn from Zimbabwe and South Africa in particular and Africa in general. Today’s international relations are dominated by human rights discourse, of which the African continent is part of the global village which is affected by such discussions. Political discussions in regional and international blocs have been framed in terms of human rights. Clearly, world leaders generally accept the idea of human rights, albeit from different angles. While the focus has always been on civil and political rights, social and economic rights have not been given much space; yet, Africa can best be understood through the latter. Africa as a continent has its own way of respecting and protecting human dignity, which largely hinges on collectivity, brotherhood, sisterhood, togetherness, Ubuntu (an African cultural concept that emphasizes the interconnectedness and interdependence of individuals within a community), and community life. Concomitantly, the main questions that the chapter interrogates are the following: How is Africa viewed with regard to human rights promotion, protection, and defense? Are there any specific human rights with which Africa resonates well at the expense of others? What practical steps has Africa taken to show its commitment to social and economic rights? Is Africa a willing violator of human rights?