Human Rights

Task 1: Wants, Needs, and Rights
1.     Quick Write: Write for ten minutes without using a dictionary. Do not worry about spelling or grammar. Try to keep writing for the entire ten minutes. Prompt: What is the difference between wants and needs? What are some examples of wants? Needs? What is a right? Is a right a need or a want? What are some examples of rights? At the end of ten minutes, get with a partner and share what you wrote.
2.     With a partner, read “Rights Under the Human Rights Act 1998” out loud . Take turns reading the articles. (Attachment 1)
3.     Compare Bills of Rights/ Codes of law from a variety of time periods and countries. Use the sources listed in Attachment 1.
 
 
 
Task 2: Universal Declaration of Human Rights
1.     Learn about the founding of the United Nations. Find information here:  http://www.un.org/ and here: http://www.un.org/Overview/uninbrief/ . Read about how the UN works and what the UN does for justice, human rights, and international law.
2.     Read the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Information about the Declaration is at  ttp://www.un.org/events/humanrights/udhr60/declaration.shtml and the document is found here:  http://www.un.org/events/humanrights/udhr60/hrphotos/declaration%20_eng.pdf . Sort the articles into these three categories: Integrity of the Person, Social & Economic, or Civil & Political. Paraphrase the articles—write them in your own words so that it is clear.
3.     Quick Write: Write for ten minutes without using a dictionary. Do not worry about spelling or grammar. Try to keep writing for the entire ten minutes. Prompt: What are Human Rights? Who gets to define these rights? What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? Can it prevent war? How or why not? At the end of ten minutes, share what you have written with a partner.
4.     Think about how rights are protected. Is it possible for these rights to be violated (for these rules to be broken)? Think of why nations might not recognize the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
 
 
 
Task 3: Human Rights Violations
1.     Re-read your paraphrases of the articles from the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
2.     View this slideshow about Human Rights: http://www.dsca.osd.mil/diils/images/UniversalHumanRights/sld001.htm
3.     Quick Write: Write for ten minutes without using a dictionary. Do not worry about spelling or grammar. Try to keep writing for the entire ten minutes. Prompt: What area of Human Rights most interests you? Why?
4.     After ten minutes, find others who are interested in the same area. Get into groups of four based on your interests. Talk about the area of human rights that interests you. This is the group you will work with on your presentation.
5.     See Attachment 1 for “Human Rights Violations Websites” and the “CRAAP Test”. Read the CRAAP Test. Use the CRAAP Test to evaluate the Human Rights Violations Websites in one area (examples are limited to Women’s Education Inequalities, Human Trafficking, Child Labor, Prisoner Torture in Guantanamo Bay, or Aboriginal Rights).
6.     Next, in your groups, do some internet research to find a Human Rights Violation in the area you are most interested in. Use the CRAAP Test to evaluate websites you find. This will be the topic of your group presentation.
7.     Some sources to get you started include:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/news-and-reports/page.do?id=1011302&n1=5&n2=1296
http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/violations/
http://www.unitedhumanrights.org/
http://www.hrw.org/doc/?t=news
8.     Ideas include, but are not limited to, Women’s Education Inequalities, Human Trafficking, Child Labor, Prisoner Torture in Guantanamo Bay, or Aboriginal Rights. See Attachment 2 for ideas.
9.     Discuss with your group the importance of the topic. Explain how this violation is both justified and criticized. Explain why you think this situation is unjust, and support your decision using the UN Declaration of Human Rights. List the articles from the Declaration that are being violated in the situation.
10.   Find two organizations that are involved in trying to stop this human rights violation.
 
Task 4: Plan your Presentation
For the Human Rights Violation you have researched, plan to present the following information in an oral presentation. Your group presentation should be approximately five minutes long. You may use PowerPoint, posters, or other aids. The following should be included (see Attachment 1):
1.     Introduction: Background, history, and overview of the issue, (What it is, where it is occurring, who? why? how?)
2.     Problem: List & Outline the rights that are being violated (at least 3) according to the UN declaration of human rights
3.     Solution: List & Outline 2 organizations that are involved in trying to stop this human rights violation. Give solutions for what we, personally, can do
4.     Conclusion: Outline why you feel this issue is an important one to bring to our attention (What is the importance of issue to world?)
5.     Include any visual aids such as charts, graphs, statistics, pictures, stories or clips to give the class a good overview of the issue. You must have a minimum of three visual aids in your presentation.
 
 
 
Task 5: Practice and give your presentation

Be sure to rehearse what you will say. Use attachment 1 to plan your presentation. Practice with your group. Remember to look at your audience; do not simply read from a paper.
Good luck!