Human Rights Around the World
A circle of linked hands (Image by Wylly Suhendra via Unsplash)
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), one of the United Nations’ founding documents, asserts that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and in rights.” The declaration contains 30 articles outlining fundamental rights inherent to every person around the globe. But how can students claim those rights if they do not know what they are? And how can students look at their own words and actions and make the connection to larger issues of human rights?
This lesson is designed to introduce students to international human rights standards and expose students to stories of real people who have had their rights violated and have defended their rights or the rights of others. The following activities allow students to explore this important document and the framework it provides in the struggle for human rights around the world.
Although its articles are not legally binding, the UDHR serves as the moral compass for the international community. Understanding the concept of human rights is essential to asserting our rights and the rights of others. We hope this lesson is a useful step in your students’ journeys to demand and protect human rights for all.
GUIDING QUESTIONS:
What are rights?
What human rights are agreed upon by the international community?
Why is it important for everyone to learn about human rights?
How can people advocate for their rights and the rights of others?
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
Describe the rights contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Differentiate between civil/political rights and social/economic rights
Identify different types of human rights violations in case studies based on real stories from around the globe
Explain different methods of advocating for human rights