Human rights

2: Universal human rights

Required Resources

• Slides 3-8
• Student Worksheet 1
• Document: Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Delivery

• Use Slide 2 to get students to brainstorm a list of basic human rights. Record their answers.
• Define the term 'universal' using Slide 3. Do students think that all the rights they have identified should be universal?
• Use Slides 3-4 to introduce the UN Commission on Human Rights and the Declaration of Universal Human Rights.
• Slides 5-7 provide a brief introduction to the UN if this is required for revision.
• Distribute Student Worksheet 1 that summarises some of the key rights within the UN Declaration. As a class compare these to the rights that were identified by students. Discuss any similarities or differences. The full 30 Articles within the declaration can be seen on Document: Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• On the Student Worksheet, students should identify the three rights that they consider to be the most important and explain why.
• Revisit the question: 'Should all human rights be universal?'. Project Slide 8 which is Article 26 from the Declaration:
• Everyone has the right to education.
• As a class or in small groups (time depending), discuss the questions on Slide 8 which debate universal rights in the context of education. Students should discuss whether it is appropriate that the rights of those mentioned should be limited in order to protect the rights of others. For each question, studentsmust outline arguments for and against with reference to rights mentioned in legislation.
• The questions on Slide 8 consider whether disruptive pupils should have a right to education. You will need to be aware of any students who may have a personal attachment to these discussions.

Differentiation

Lower Ability:

Pair work

Higher Ability:

Independent work