The paper examines cultural relativism as a common justification of the non-universality and hence non-application of human rights. Its thesis is that this justification is invalid and that there is therefore a prima facie reason to accept the universality of human rights. It examines the following statements found in the theory of cultural relativism: human rights are western rights; they harm cultural identities and diversity and are therefore products of neo-colonialism; cultures should be preserved and defended against change, e.g. change imposed by the requirements of human rights; respect for diversity should be an absolute principle ("absolute relativism").