Equal Rights and the Right to Difference: A Challenge to Governance

Abstract

The present study, resulting from a bibliographical research, discusses the joint of two dimensions of citizenship, in States that want to be democratic and multicultural such as in the case of Mozambique, namely, the equality of rights and duties and the right to difference. From a historical point of view, the data show that, despite the absence of a cultural diversity management policy, the country has developed a vision that, under the sign of national unity, firstly it favored the principle of equality of rights and duties, in the detriment of respect for the identity and cultural differences and in secondly, to a vision in which recognizes cultural diversity as a richness to be promoted and exploited. Even so, due to lack of a clear policy, there is still the ignorance of this wealth and relationships tend to be categorized. Thus, the study advocates the creation of a policy on cultural diversity, which articulates the principle of universal citizenship and cultural rights. To do so, this policy must be focused on the promotion of cultural freedom and intercultural education, so that people may be able to meet and confront critically with their own cultures and with those of other social groups, but also of exercise freely and consciously to your citizenship.