This fortnight's thi>e Human Rights Issue 150
 
 


All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. (Article 1 UNDHR) 

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. (Article 2 UNDHR)

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNDHR) was adopted by the United Nations on December 10, 1948. This was the first time that so many countries in the world got together and decided that all people, by the very nature of their humanness, were entitled to have their human rights upheld.

Woman Carrying Basket

Human Rights
This is a topic that we hear about quite often. The media are continually telling us that human rights are being violated in certain countries around the world, that abuse of human rights is unlawful, that workers have human rights. So, what are human rights and why must we fight for them?

Human rights are simply that. Rights we have because we are human.

So, does every person have human rights? Simply put, yes.

Do people always have access to these rights? Unfortunately, no.

Boy working

A Brief History
The implementation of the UNDHR came at a time in our recent history where there was a massive abuse of human rights because of the power that people had over others. The League of Nations was set up after World War One to ensure that war never broke out again. However, it failed to achieve world peace and it was after the devastation of World War Two that the United Nations was formed. World War Two was the most extensive and expensive war in history and it is estimated by historians that the loss of life mounted up to 57 million people. These include victims of genocide and scientific experimentation, as well as military personnel and civilians from countries right around the globe. Death tolls were high because of war time inventions such as atomic weapons, jet aircraft, and RADAR which killed with alarming speed and accuracy. Since this time, over 190 countries have joined the United Nations and many of them have adopted the UNDHR.

Boy Carrying Food

Acceptance of The Declaration
By spelling out individual rights and freedoms for everyone, the Declaration was unprecedented, and the UN claims that it remains the first pillar of twentieth-century human rights law and the cornerstone of the universal human rights movement.

The Universal Declaration is built on the fundamental principle that human rights are based on the inherent dignity of every person. This dignity, and the rights to freedom and equality which derive from it, are indivisible.

Although the Declaration does not have the binding force of a treaty, it has been accepted in countries right around the globe. Many countries have cited the Declaration or included it in their basic laws or constitutions.

Woman Washing

Violation of Human Rights
Even since the introduction of the Declaration, there have been examples where we have seen gross violations of human rights. War, genocide, persecution, rape, murder and slavery all take away a person's human rights and deny their ability to live as an individual.

If abuse of human rights is happening even today, then how effective has the United Nations been in implementing this Declaration?

Since its implementation, over sixty human rights treaties and declarations have been put in to place. There are Government groups, private companies, charity organisations and individuals who are all working to achieve and uphold these treaties and declarations, and when abuse of them occurs, punishment is often sought.

International Human Rights Day - December 10

Human Rights Day 2006

This is observed by the international community every year on December 10 and commemorates the day in 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is one day of the year when people are actively encouraged to think about their rights and to assess the way that their human rights are being upheld so that through education all people in all countries around the world know exactly how they are entitled to be treated, and what can be done if their rights are being violated in any way.

 

    

Teaching and Learning Activities

Religious Education

1) Catholic Social Teaching looks at the key social teachings of the Church, and one of the principles focuses on the dignity of the human person. It states that all human life is sacred, and the dignity of the human person is the starting point for a moral vision for society. This principle is grounded in the idea that each person is created in the image of God.

  • Discuss this with a partner and list reasons why all human beings should have their human rights upheld.

  • Pope John XXIII wrote Peace on Earth in 1963 and article 9 states: "Any human society, if it is to be well-ordered and productive, must lay down as a foundation this principle, namely, that every human being is a person, that is, his nature is endowed with intelligence and free will. Indeed, precisely because he is a person he has rights and obligations flowing directly and simultaneously from his very nature." What insight does this give us, as Christians, for the respect and dignity of the human person?

2) Human rights are essential if people are to be treated in a humane and civil manner. This is not always the case, and at times, there are violations of a person's rights at work, school, and in the home. Design a short prayer service looking at the sacredness of human life and the necessity for people to have their human rights upheld. You may think of a relevant song and include some Prayers of Intercession.

3) "We are one human family. Our responsibilities to each other cross national, racial, economic and ideological differences. We are called to work globally for justice." Write a one page extended response on this principle of Catholic Social Teaching.

4) A simple way of expressing article 1 of the UNDHR is to say 'When children are born, they are free and each should be treated in the same way. They have reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a friendly manner.' With this in mind, as a class discuss the following:

  • What do the words dignity, justice and equality mean?
  • What do these three words signify in your own lives?
  • How are they related?
  • What is a human right?
  • What is not a human right?
  • Do we have them naturally, just as we have toes and eyes?
  • What is universal about them?
  • What are our responsibilities towards our rights?
  • Is it the same as our responsibilities towards the rights of others?
  • How can we make sure our rights are respected?

You may use: www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/humanrights/
about/understanding.asp as a reference point.

English

1) Go to: www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/humanrights/
resources/plain.asp and read the plain English version of the Declaration of Human Rights. It uses language that is easy to understand. Once you have read through it, select one article (or point) and write an argumentative essay on why this right is essential for all humans.

2) Go to: www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/humanrights/
resources/plain.asp and print a copy of the Declaration.

  • As a class, each student should read aloud one of the articles (points).
  • Answer the following questions using www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/
    humanrights/qna.asp     as a reference point if necessary.
    • What is this document?
    • What is a Declaration?
    • Who wrote it?
    • Who signed it?
    • Where did they sign it?

HSIE/SOSE

Civics and Citizenship

1) Read through the 30 articles of the Declaration, available in a simple version at: www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/humanrights/
resources/plain.asp and select one of the areas mentioned that you could base a simple project around in your local area. You may like to look at your own school as an environment. Are there bullying issues you could address? Issues surrounding how particular people are treated, people who have less access to resources than others, or is there a person in a prison who you could write to or visit?

2) Go to: www.humanrights.gov.au/info_for_students/
download.html and download posters, information packs and other interesting things on children's human rights.

3) As a class, discuss ways of making your school aware of human rights issues. In doing so, you may choose to plan and run one of the following:

  • Run an 'awareness campaign' - use posters, bulletin boards, the school newspaper to spread the message
  • Get your Student Representative Council involved
  • Make a presentation at your school assembly
  • Run a survey to get the views of others on the issue

4) As children and young people, it is essential that you know your rights, but also what is happening to other children your own age. The enquiry into children in immigration detention contains some startling facts and figures. For relevant classroom activities and to read a copy of the report, go to: www.humanrights.gov.au/human_rights/
children_detention_report/education_
resource/bda.html and follow the links.

Legal Studies

1) In Australia, there are laws that protect our human rights. Go to: www.humanrights.gov.au/
hr_explained/hr_in_australia.html and read about how the Government protects our human rights. What happens if they are violated? Who can we turn to?

2) Select one of the rights concerning young people listed below and comment on its importance. Also discuss what life would be life without this human right being upheld. Choose from:

And several other topics at: www.humanrights.gov.au
/info_for_students/children/index.html

Science

1) Female genital mutilation is a gross misuse of power where the rights of a female are not upheld. Go to: www.unicef.org/protection/
index_genitalmutilation.html to read about this practice.

  • What does this practice do to the female body?

  • Why is it done?

  • Medically, how can this lead to permanent damage, scarring and disease?

Mathematics

1) Child labour and school attendances are two subject areas that are directly related to each other. Go to www.childinfo.org/areas/
childlabour/education.php and answer the following questions:

  • Look at the pie graphs showing the 'Activity status of children in Sub-Saharan Africa'. What do these graphs show?

  • Look at the graph showing the 'Child labour and school attendance of children in Sub-Saharan Africa'. Use it to answer the following questions:

    • What is the country average for the percentage of school attendance?
    • What is the country average for the percentage of child labour?
    • List the countries that have a higher percentage of school attendance than Gambia.
    • Which country has the highest percentage of child labour?
    • Which country has the most similar statistics for child labour and school attendance as the country average?

Parish/Community/Social Justice Groups

1) The Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has an excellent website with relevant information for all age groups at www.humanrights.gov.au/index.html and especially for children at www.humanrights.gov.au/info_for_students/
index.html

2) The media are often talking about issues where human rights have been violated. Discuss some of these issues with your group. You may like to consider the following:

  • David Hicks in Guantanamo Bay
  • North Korea nuclear testing
  • Prisoners on death row

3) Join the mailing list for a human rights group so that you can be kept up to date with what is happening in Australia and overseas. Try:

4) Links to many human rights organisations and resources can be found at www.humanrights.gov.au/links/index.html

5) "The arrest, detention, or imprisonment of a child shall be... used only as a measure or last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time." Convention on the Rights of the Child. Go to www.humanrights.gov.au/human_rights/
children_detention_report/index.html and click on the links to read the report, a summary guide, media pack or teaching resources to work through with your group.

6) Many interesting human rights articles and media releases can be found at www.humanrights.gov.au/index.html, including:

7) Subscribe to or tell a friend about OzSpirit, a free online publication. Go to: www.ozspirit.com/ to register.

 

  
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