States and individuals identify with the term human rights. However, the understanding and realisation of human rights is contextual. Through the proliferation of human rights instruments, states ratify these instruments to the extent of acceptance by their social, cultural and religious norms. Arguably, this practice has left the realisation of equality, inclusion and the overall practice of democracy to the discretion of states. It begs the question, “to what extent is a state representative of its citizens.” Is the voice of the state only an echo of the voice of the political class? Is democracy limited to a group of elites in the political class?