Human Rights Day, 10 December
What are 20 human rights achievements from the last 20 years?
Cut out the disks and put them at the ends of your string – ‘least important’ on the left and ‘most important’ on the right.
Most important
Least important
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Human Rights Day, 10 December
What are 20 human rights achievements from the last 20 years?
Cut out the cards and put them on your washing line.
The Human Rights Council (set up in 2006) allows
countries to explore each other’s human rights records
and to make suggestions for how to improve.
The High Commissioner’s team trains organisations in
many countries to promote human rights (and to
challenge situations in which people’s rights are
violated).
People all over the world are starting to understand
that human rights are universal, rather than just for
wealthy countries.
Millions of global citizens appreciate that human rights
are a vital part of obtaining peaceful agreements
between politicians.
More citizens than ever know what their rights are, as
outlined in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human
Rights.
In countries where traditionally many children have
been abused/exploited, their rights are improving.
Women’s rights are now at the front of many people’s
minds, e.g. maternity rights.
Citizens with a disability can expect equal access to
education, employment and leisure activities.
Serious violations of human rights are now punished in
most countries, e.g. victims of war crimes can seek
justice in court.
Families who move to a different country, e.g. to seek
asylum, can expect fair treatment upon their arrival.
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Human Rights Day, 10 December
Gay, bisexual and transgender rights are frequently
discussed in the media.
Laws are becoming increasingly strict about
words/actions that incite hatred.
There’s now a High Commissioner for Human Rights –
an independent person who can speak out for human
rights worldwide.
There are many human rights experts who promote
awareness of the group that they represent (e.g.
victims of forced marriage).
The laws in many countries are based upon the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Citizens can expect governments to be honest about
how seriously they take human rights.
One in three countries has an organisation set up
specifically to influence government policy about
human rights.
The UN (United Nations) runs projects based around
human rights, e.g. the United Nations Fund for Victims
of Torture.
Human traffickers can now be prosecuted, and the
people that they traffic are seen as victims (rather than
criminals).
Minority groups (e.g. Chinese people living in France)
have the right to be treated in the same way as larger
groups (e.g. French people living in France).
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Human Rights Day, 10 December
What is Human Rights Day for?
Why is Human Rights Day special this year?
• Human Rights Day has a special significance this
year. It commemorates 20 years since the 1993
Conference on Human Rights.
• In 1950, the UN (United Nations) proclaimed 10
December as Human Rights Day.
• The aim of Human Rights Day is to celebrate the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a list of
30 rights that every citizen in the world is entitled to.
• These 30 rights include the right to get married, the
right to work and the right to an education.
The theme for Human Rights Day 2013 is ‘20 years:
working for your rights’.
• There is a big emphasis on identifying the human
rights challenges of the future.
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Human Rights Day, 10 December
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Human Rights Day, 10 December
• Set up your ‘washing line’ by putting the string across
the table.
• Put the ‘least important’ disc at the left end of the string
and the ‘most important’ disc at the right end.
• Read the 20 human rights achievements.
• Decide in your group which rights are most important
and least important. Put the cards in order on your
‘washing line’.
• Be ready to discuss your ideas with another group.
Work in pairs or small groups.
You will get an envelope containing:
• string
• paper clips
• two discs (‘Least important’ and ‘Most important’)
• 20 cards about human rights achievements.
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Human Rights Day, 10 December
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Class feedback
• Find another pair or small group and look at their
washing line.
• Which five human rights did your group choose as
‘most important’?
• Explain why, using examples from your local
community or from the global community.
• Can you persuade another group to change the order
of any of their cards? Why / why not?
• Can another group persuade you to change the order
of your cards? Why / why not?
• Choose two of their cards and ask them to justify why
they put them where they did.
• Be ready to share your ideas with the class.
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Human Rights Day, 10 December
Justify your opinions!
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‘Washing line’ activity
‘Washing line’ activity
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