24 July - 30 July

What Are Human Rights?

‘Human rights’ are rights that belong to every individual regardless of race, sex, religion, nationality, ethnicity etc. Following the Second World War, the need to prevent such atrocities happening again in the future was evident and as a result, the UN (United Nations) drafted the ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ as a standard by which all nations should adhere in order to protect the rights of every individual across the world.

In your books, draw a table and write a brief explanation of each of the following human rights listed below.

Match these in your book.

In groups, discuss each of these scenarios. Using the definitions you have been given, decide which human rights have been violated.

• Fahima has travelled to the New Zealand illegally from Sudan in search of a safer life. She has been told by a family that she now lives with that she is safe. They have taken her passport and forms of identity and are making her work for no money.
• Gurinder is 14. As a Sikh, he wears a turban as part of his religious beliefs. His school have informed his parents that his turban is not part of his school uniform and he can no longer wear it to school. He has been told that he can return to school when he is no longer choosing to wear the item.
• David is 40 and suffers from severe Alzheimer’s disease. He knows that it will develop to the stage where he will not be able to do anything for himself. David wants to end his life using euthanasia.
• Malala Yousafzai, an activist campaigning for female education, is shot and near-fatally injured by a Taliban gunman in response to her activist work.