Human Rights Education

Yogesh N. Mhaske

Asst. Prof. Sandip University , Nashik.

United Nations definition of Human Rights

• Human Rights are universal legal guarantees protecting individuals and groups against actions which interfere with fundamental freedoms and human dignity.

Human Right Education

• Human rights education is an integral part of the right to education and is increasingly gaining recognition as a human right in itself. Knowledge of rights and freedoms is considered a fundamental tool to guarantee respect for the rights of all.

Fundamental Human Rights

• The right to life• The right to liberty and freedom• The right to the pursuit of happiness• The right to live your life free of discrimination• The right to control what happens to your own body

and to make medical decisions for yourself

….. Fundamental Human Rights• The right to freely exercise your religion and practice

your religious beliefs without fear of being prosecuted for your beliefs

• The right to be free from prejudice on the basis of race, gender, national origin, color, age or sex

• The right to grow old• The right to a fair trial and due process of the law• The right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment

…. Fundamental Human Rights• The right to be free from torture• The right to be free from slavery• The right to freedom of speech• The right to freely associate with whomever you

like and to join groups of which you'd like to be a part.

• The right to freedom of thought• The right not to be prosecuted from your thoughts

International NGO works for Human Right ..1

• Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights for all. With more than 2.2 million members and subscribers in more than 150 countries, they conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated

…2

• Children’s Defence Fund (CDF): The CDF is a child advocacy organization that works to ensure a level playing field for all children. CDF champions policies and programs that lift children out of poverty, protect them from abuse and neglect and ensure their right to equal care and education. www.childrensdefense.org 

…3

• The Human Rights Action Centre is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, headed by Jack Healey, world-renowned human rights activist and pioneer. The Center works on issues of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and uses the arts and technologies to innovate, create and develop new strategies to stop human rights abuses. They also support growing human rights groups all over the world. www.humanrightsactioncenter.org

…4

• Simon Wiesenthal Center: This prestigious international Jewish human rights organization is dedicated to repairing the world one step at a time. The Center generates changes by confronting anti-Semitism, hate and terrorism, promoting human rights and dignity, standing with Israel, defending the safety of Jews worldwide, and teaching the lessons of the Holocaust for future generations. www.wiesenthal.com

Objective of Human Rights Education in India

Human rights education aims to do the following:

Enhance the knowledge and understanding of human rights. Foster attitudes of tolerance, respect, solidarity, and responsibility. Develop awareness of how human rights can be translated into social

and political reality. Develop skills for protecting human rights

The design of the curriculum needs to be built on the philosophical, psychological, and sociological bases of curriculum planning and development

The school curriculum should work toward the holistic development of the individual.

core components identified in the National Policy on Education (1986):

1. The history of India's freedom movement;

2. Constitutional obligations;

3. the content essential to nurture national identity;

4. India's common cultural heritage;

5. egalitarianism;

6. democracy and secularism;

7. equality of the sexes;

8. protection of the environment;

9. removal of social barriers;

10. observance of small-family norms; and

11. inculcation of scientific temper.

The following provisions in Indian Constitution safeguard human rights:(Article 14): Equality before the law

(Article 15): Non discrimination on ground of religion, race, caste, sex, and place of birth

(Article 16): Equality of opportunity

(Article 19): Freedom of speech, expression, assembly, association, movement, residence, acquisition, and disposition of property, practice of any profession, carrying out any occupation, trade, or business;

(Article 23): Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labor

(Article 24): Prohibition of labor in case of children below 14 years

(Article 25): Freedom of religion

• (Article 28): No provision for religious instruction in any educational institution wholly maintained out of State funds

• (Article 29 [1]): Conservation of language, scripts, and culture

• (Article 30): Right of minorities to administer educational institutions

• (Article 38 [1], Directive Principles of State Policy): State guarantee of social order

• (Article 39, Directive Principles of State Policy): Adequate means of livelihood, equal pay for equal work for both men and women, non-abuse of health of the worker, opportunity for children to develop in a healthy manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity cases

• (Article 41, Directive Principles of State Policy); Right to work, education, and public assistance in specific

• (Article 45, Directive Principles of State Policy): provision for free and compulsory education of children up to 14 years of age and

• (Article 46, Directive Principles of State Policy).Ensuring education and economic development of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and other weaker sections of society

Curriculum for Human Right Education

History

allows the study of human rights as it covers topics such as the growth of democracy, development of trade unions, social reforms, and independence movements. The Industrial Revolution, and its impact on countries outside Europe, might be linked with the study of the International Labour Organization and its efforts to ensure just and equitable conditions for all workers, and to abolish child labor and other abuses of human dignity. It also introduces the students to some of the significant declarations on human rights, from the American Declaration of Independence to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

…2Geography- stresses environmental and pollution issues and the study of international ecological problems.Civics- focuses on Indian democracy, including topics such as the individual and society, democratic citizenship, the Constitution, the judiciary, democracy, foreign policy, the UN, world problems (human rights, disarmament, new international order, etc.).

…3Economics

focuses mainly on the study of the Indian economy ,economic development and social justice by covering content areas such as the rights of consumers, and consumer protection.

Science

stresses the development of scientific temper; cultivation of social, ethical, and social values; and the possible misuse of science. Biology can explore the scientific bases for human rights and social prejudice. Science can also include teaching of health, diseases, and the contribution of the World Health Organization.

…4• Mathematics

• can teach the skills related to elementary statistics and graphing, which may be used to interpret data on food and population, agriculture and industrial outputs, expenditure on armaments and on education, and other topics that have a bearing on basic human rights. Natural science and mathematics also reflect the modern scientific and technological work that may either benefit humankind or work to its detriment.

Teaching Methodology • As discussed earlier, human rights teaching should permeate not only all school

subjects but also every aspect of school life. There is no denying the fact that human rights can be taught more effectively through various curricular activities.

• Teacher attitudes and assessment methods are important in conveying key messages to students.

• Discussion method

• Project method

• Activity Method

• Companying

• Celebration of various days

• Posture Presentations

References www.aspbae.org/bldc/sites/default/files/ppt/Know%20Your

%20Rights.ppt http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-human-

rights.html http://www.humanrights.com/voices-for-human-rights/human-

rights-organizations/non-governmental.html http://birbhum.gov.in/DPSC/reference/86.pdf http://www.hurights.or.jp/archives/

human_rights_education_in_asian_schools/section2/2001/03/human-rights-education-in-indian-schools-curriculum-development.html

Thank You