Bringing Global Human Rights into the Classroom

International human rights NGO Amnesty International (AI) recently published its 2020/21 report on the state of human rights around the world. The report includes information on the status of human rights in 149 countries. It notes the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ways in which the pandemic has worsened existing inequalities and human rights abuses. The report also highlights alarming increases in: gender-based violence, violations of health and social protections, and the repression of dissent. 

Here is a sample of takeaways from the report, highlighting issues in various countries around the world. To read the report in full, visit Amnesty International.

Gender-Based Violence

Although legislation offering stronger protection against violence passed in some countries, gender-based violence (including rape, “honor” killings, and violence against LGBTQIA+ communities) was still incredibly prevalent in all regions of the world. In many cases, COVID-19 exacerbated gender-based violence. Many organizations around the world reported an increase in domestic violence, as many victims were confined with their abusers during pandemic lockdowns. 

COVID-19 also disrupted many people’s access to abortion, maternal healthcare, and other vital services.

Global Examples:

• Central African Republic: Nearly 3,000 cases of gender-based violence were reported between April and June 2020, compared to 1,299 from January to March.

• Dominican Republic: As a result of a curfew imposed in March, many transgender sex workers were unable to work and faced barriers in accessing social services, leaving them without income or health services. 

• Peru: Nearly 11,000 were reported missing in 2020, and gender-based violence hotlines received more than 170,000 calls – nearly double the previous year.

Violations of Health and Social Protections

At least 1.8 million people died from COVID-19 in 2020. In many places around the world, governments did not implement safety measures quickly or adequately enough to protect their populations.  Unsafe working conditions and loss of employment, food insecurity, and harassment of health care workers were just some of the challenges posed by the pandemic. 

The pandemic also exacerbated disparities between ethnic groups and poor and social classes. In many places, including the United States, already marginalized groups were disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and continue to experience higher rates of illness and death from the disease. Additionally, vaccine hoarding by rich countries has limited the number of doses available in poorer countries, further global inequalities.

Global Examples:

• Brazil: Overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and inadequate health services devastated incarcerated populations. According to government data, there have been more than 43,000 COVID-19 cases in the country’s prisons and youth jails. Some states did not test a single incarcerated person for COVID-19.

• Portugal: Over 50% of doctors lacked adequate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) during the first lockdown, and a third continued to lack PPE through June.

• United Kingdom: Older residents in care facilities were put at higher risk or contracting COVID-19 as the result of inadequate PPE, lack of regular testing, and the discharging of potentially infected patients from hospitals back to care homes.

Repression of Dissent

During the pandemic, governments around the world have used COVID-19 to justify restrictions on the rights of people to protest and dissent. Many regimes banned protests altogether and punished those who criticized the governments’ actions related to COVID-19. In some cases, the pandemic has also been used as an excuse to repress all criticism of the government, even for issues unrelated to coronavirus.

Global Examples:

• Cambodia: Authorities used the COVID-19 pandemic to repress freedom of expression, targeting journalists and critics of the government. At least 22 people were arrested for allegedly sharing “false information” about the pandemic. Seven were charged, six of which happen to be affiliated with a banned opposition political party.

• Egypt: Authorities used mass arrest, unlawful force, and censorship to repress small protests. Hundreds have been arrested and detained as a result. Authorities also raided the homes of protesters, killing at least two people in the process.

• Turkey: Authorities, claiming to be fighting the “spread of fear and panic,” targeted people discussing the pandemic online. It also detained at least 510 people for sharing COVID-19 related content online.

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Classroom Activity

1. Tell students that each year, Amnesty International releases a report on the state of human rights in countries around the world and that they will be exploring issues mentioned in the report. Show students the table of contents of the Amnesty International 2020/21 Report (pg. v-vi) and ask each student to choose one country.

2. Instruct students to read the report of their chosen country, then conduct additional research about one of the issues mentioned. The issue does not have to be one of the three highlighted above. Students should:

   • Locate their country on the map and look up basic information (population, type of government, etc.)

   • Find and read at least one news article about the issue

   • Write a short paragraph providing a brief description of their country and the issue

3. At the end of class or during the next session, divide students into small groups and ask each student to spend 2-3 minutes sharing about their issue with their group. When all students have shared, ask them to discuss the following questions:

   • Did any of your countries have similar human rights violations? What does this tell us?

   • Are there similar issues in the United States? 

   • What do you think a young person could do to take a stand against these issues?

4. Debrief as a class, asking a few students to share takeaways from their group discussion.