Northwestern Events Calendar

Jun
1
2016

Religions and Women and Children’s Rights in Zimbabwe

When: Wednesday, June 1, 2016
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CT

Where: 620 Library Place, 620 Library Place , Evanston, IL 60208 map it

Audience: Faculty/Staff - Student - Public - Post Docs/Docs - Graduate Students

Contact: Program of African Studies   (847) 491-7323

Group: Program of African Studies

Category: Lectures & Meetings

Description:

Abstract: The question whether religions are opposed to human rights has assumed a special significance. Although Zimbabwe as a member state within the United Nations has ratified many of the international human rights instruments and hence undertaken binding legal obligations, the Shona people of Zimbabwe’s dissatisfaction at what they perceive as the secularization and westernization of human rights is evident. Most Shona people in Zimbabwe seem not relate to the rights language and concepts emanating from certain human rights instruments, perceiving them as manifestations of cultural imperialism and euro centrism. In the context of Shona communities, the situation is made worse where some aspects of international human rights law are considered both culturally and religiously alien. The primary objective of this presentation is to explore the relation between religions and human rights pertaining to women and children, with reference to Shona religion and African Initiated Churches (AICs) in Zimbabwe in order to shade light on the problems and promises for a human rights culture/ethics among religious communities in Zimbabwe. The paper is guided by two questions, namely, (i) what are the problems bedeviling the interactions between Shona and AICs interaction with human rights? and (ii)what could be the possible solutions that may lead these religions’ contribution to human rights. I argue that the promise of human rights in Shona and AICs religious communities depends on resolving the clash of human rights in the clash of religions and human rights in Zimbabwe. 

Bio: Nisbert Taisekwa Taringa, PAS Visiting Scholar, holds a PhD in religious studies (University of Zimbabwe) and is an associate professor and head of the Department of Religious Studies, Classics and Philosophy, University of Zimbabwe in Harare. In 2006, he participated in the SUSI Institute on Religious Pluralism in the United States, UC-Santa Barbara. He is a DAAD (Germany Academic Exchange) alumnus and has participated in the Bayreuth Academy of Advanced African Studies Fellowship (Germany). His research interest is in methods and theories in the study of religion and in religions and contemporary ethical issues such as ecology and climate change, animals in religions, human rights, religions and international relations, gender and sexuality, religious pluralism, and religions and health and well-being. Currently he has been awarded the Fulbright African Research Scholar Award, Professional Development 2015-2016 researching on religions and human rights.

Add to Calendar

Add Event To My Group:

Please sign-in