Asian
values don't justify abuses: expert
AGE
By PAMELA BONE. SYDNEY
September 16, 1999
ASIA, not the West, is in spiritual crisis, a leading human rights
activist told an International Council on Social Welfare conference in
Sydney yesterday.
Mr Basil Fernando, the executive director of the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission, said ``Asian values'' were too often used an as excuse to justify abuses of basic human rights.
``The deprivation of women's rights is often justified in terms of religion or customs.
``Even at the end of the 20th century, in many parts of Asia, a girl child has less chance of education, employment or a free choice in marriage. The practice of caste is often justified in a similar manner. It is sad to see such practices being justified as Asian values,'' he said.
``Those who speak of Asian values say that the West is in a spiritual crisis while we have no such crisis. This is far from the truth. Asia has been, and will continue to be in a deep spiritual crisis ... mainly due to our inability to arrive at a consensus on human equality.
``Despite the great religious traditions we have inherited we have not been able to accept the common humanity of every person irrespective of gender, race or caste.''