SOAS Research Online

Abstract

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines the very idea of human rights and its role in contemporary international law. It devotes to probing a broad range of affinities between music and human rights. The book demonstrates how curricula, and specifically curricula designed for children from vulnerable and disadvantaged social sectors, are notably enhanced by the inclusion of music. It undertakes a detailed examination of the right to freedom of expression, which is widely recognized as essential to the flourishing of culture and to individual personal development. The book addresses cultural and political challenges confronting present-day Indigenous communities. It considers rising levels of gender-based violence in Mozambique and explores the music and dance of young women in three regions in the country as they respond to their position in society and challenge the terms of their discrimination.