In some cultures it is denied that human rights are universal. It is held that they must be considered in the context of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds.
Like other countries, the USA claims the right to select which rights it chooses to defend and which international human rights treaties it wishes to uphold. The USA has long resisted ratification of the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and that on Civil and Political Rights. It has refused to ratify those international agreements permitting international review of allegations of human rights abuses or those governing treatment of political refugees and their right to apply for political asylum.