[down load human rights lesson activity in word]
Human rights recognise that all people are equally important – regardless of age, race, gender, wealth, religion or place of birth – and are to be treated equally, fairly and with dignity. They are a statement of the basic freedoms and protections that belong to all people.
After- the horror of World War 11, the United Nations (UN) wanted to protect human rights and in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted, These include the right to life, food and shelter, education, freedom, of speech and religion, justice, and peace. They also define the responsibility of governments to provide for their citizens. When human rights are protected, people can live together in safety and security.
However, in real life, many people do not have their rights protected. When a child is being bullied in the school playground, or abused at home, his or her right to protection and safety is not respected. In some countries, children miss out on their right to an education and are forced to do dangerous work or even fight as soldiers.
In 1989, the United Nations agreed that children needed special protection and adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The Convention is an international agreement that sets out the rights of children in 54 articles and is guided by four beliefs:
1. Children should not suffer discrimination (Article 2).
2. In all decisions affecting children, their best interests should be the main concern (Article 3)
3. Children have the right to survive and develop healthily (Article 6).
4. Children have the right to have their views taken into account in matters that affect them (Article 12).
For You To Do!
1. Imagine. Write a paragraph or poem describing how the world would be different if people were “treated equally, fairly and with dignity”.
2. Brainstorm a list of ways that school and family decisions might consider “the best interests of children (Article 3). Give examples of when a school or family might take a child’s view into account (Article 12) but not follow that view. Why might this happen?
Source:Get Connected, Issue 4, July 2008, World Vision Australia.
