HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE, PEACE AND CONFLICTS

UNIT „HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE, PEACE AND CONFLICTS – PART 1”

This part of the lecture gives definition of human rights and provides examples of the human rights’ categories.

Level: A1-A2

Learning outcomes:

– Vocabulary on human rights and human rights’ categories

– Reading comprehension

– Speaking and discussion

Activities - PART 1

Duration: 10 min

Learning outcome:

+ Changing perspectives

+ Critical thinking

+ Open-mindedness

+ Understanding the concept of human rights

Learning skills:

Vocabulary

Speaking

What are human rights? 

Source: US Embassy & Consulates in Brazil. (2018). Statement by Secretary Pompeo on Human Rights Day. 

Read the text below and discuss with your classmates the following questions:

1.      What is “Human rights”?

2.      Who protects human rights?

3.      What rights are contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

4.      What do you know about human rights in your country?  

All people are born with rights, which are protected by the law and government. These rigths are called human rigths.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948, is the document that grants the personal, civil, political, economic and cultural rights. 

Duration: 10 min

Learning outcome:

+ Self-reflection

+ Critical thinking

+ Reading comprehension

+ Understanding the concept of human rights

Learning skills:

Vocabulary

Reading

Grammar

Read the text below and complete the sentences:

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights protects the right to life, the right to liberty and security, the freedom from arbitrary arrest, the right to fair trial, the freedom of movement, the freedom of speech, the right to work and education, the right to raise a family, etc. 

 

1.      We all have the to a fair trial.

2.      We all have the right to of speech.

3.      We all have the right to a family.

4.      We all have the right to of movement.

5.      We all have the to freedom from arbitrary arrest.

6.      The Universal of Human Rights protects the right to life.

Duration: 20 min

Learning outcome:

+ Self-reflection

+ Critical thinking

+ Reading comprehension

+ Understanding the categories of human rights

Learning skills:

Vocabulary

Reading

Grammar

Comprehension

1. The right to healthcare is a socio-economic right.
2. The right to own a culture is a cultural right.
3. The right to be treated as equal to anyone else in society is a cultural right.
4. The right to shelter is a civil right.
5. The right to work and education is a socio-economic right.
6. The right to participate in cultural life is a political right.
7. The right to freedom is a civil right.
8. There is no right to vote and participate in political life.
9. Right to food is socio-economic right.
10. There is no right to a clean environment.

Source: The life of Rosa Parks. (2005). National Geographic Kids.

 

Duration: 15 minutes reading + 10 minutes  writing

Learning outcome:

+ Self-reflection

+ Critical thinking

Learning skills:

Vocabulary

Reading

Grammar

Comprehension

Read the text about Rosa Parks and complete the following exercises

Answer the questions about Rosa Parks.

1. What did the ‘Jim Crow laws’ claim?
2. For whom were the front seats on the bus reserved?
3. What happened to Rosa Parks?
4. What did the other passengers on the bus do?
5. How did she respond to the police?

Discuss with your class the questions about Rosa Parks.

6. What do you think about racism?

7. Are there segregation laws in your country?

8. Is equality important?

9. Do you know other human rights’ activists? If yes, please explain to your classmates.

Source: The life of Rosa Parks. (2005). National Geographic Kids.

Duration: 15 min

Learning outcome:

+ Discussion

+ Critical thinking

+ Speaking

Learning skills:

Vocabulary

Speaking

Look at the following images and discuss with your classmates what you have understood so far about human rights. Try to use appropriate vocabulary.

 

Source: i-sight.com

Duration: 15 min

Learning outcome:

+ Self-reflection

+ Critical thinking

Languagr skills:

Vocabulary

Match the definitions to the explanations:

1. Equality
2. Cultural rights
3. Segregation
4. Socio-economic rights
5. Racism
6. Human rights activist
7. Civil and political rights

Duration: 15 minutes reading + 30 minutes

Learning outcome:

+  Self-reflection

+  Critical thinking 

+  Speaking

Language skills:

Vocabulary

Reading

 Read the text about Nelson Mandela and complete the following exercises:

In history, lots of people around the world have faced discrimination – where they are treated differently because of their race, skin colour, gender, age and lots of other things, too.

But there are some amazing people who have worked hard to make a change for the better, and help us move towards a world where everyone is treated fairly and equally. One such person is Nelson Mandela.

South Africa is home to many different peoples and cultures – so much so that it’s been nicknamed the ‘rainbow nation’. But, sadly, at the time that Nelson Mandela was growing up, there was a huge racial divide in the country.

White people ran the country, and they generally led privileged lives with good jobs, nice homes and access to good schools and healthcare. Most black people, however, worked in low-paid jobs, and lived in poor communities with poor facilities. They had far fewer rights, too – they weren’t even allowed to vote in elections!

Source: The life of Nelson Mandela. (2005). National Geographic Kids.


Like many others, Nelson Mandela felt that everyone deserved to be treated the same. He travelled the country to gain support for non-violent protests against the National Party’s racists laws. He was captured and went to prison. Later, when he was released, he became a national hero and a president of South Africa. His work towards making South Africa a more peaceful place won the pair the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. As President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela improved the living standards of South Africa’s black population. He also worked hard to make South Africa a country of equality, where people of all race and colour lived together in peace.

 Complete the missing word in the sentences.

8. Lots of people around the world have faced   – where they are treated differently because of their race, skin colour, gender, age and lots of other things, too.

9. But there are some amazing people who have worked hard to help us move towards a world where everyone is treated fairly and  

10. South Africa is home to many different peoples and cultures – so much so that it’s been nicknamed the  

11. He travelled the country to gain support for non-violent   against the National Party’s racists laws.

12. His work towards making South Africa a more peaceful place won the   Peace Prize in 1993.

13. He worked hard to make South Africa a country of  , where people of all race and colour lived together in peace.




Chose a word from the box and complete it in the sentences.


14. Created by white authorities who thought black people’s lives didn’t matter as much as theirs, these laws meant  

15. An   is a person who works to change a community, aiming to make it a better place.

16. Rosa was arrested by the police and fined for breaking   laws!

17. There are some amazing people who have done incredible things to fight for  , such person was a called Rosa Parks.

18. Regardless of where you come from, what religion you follow, where you work, what   you speak or whether you’re a boy or a girl.




Match the words in the box with the images.

 

          
         19.                                                20.   


         
          21.                                           22.  


         
          23.                                          24.

UNIT „HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE, PEACE AND CONFLICTS – PART 2”

This part of the lecture gives definition of human rights violations and provides examples of the human rights violations.

Level: A1-A2

Learning outcomes:

– Vocabulary on human rights and human rights’ categories

– Reading comprehension

– Speaking and discussion

– Vocabulary

Activities - PART 2

Duration: 10 min

Learning outcome:

+ Changing perspectives

+ Critical thinking

+ Open-mindedness

+ Understanding the concept of human rights violations

Language skills:

Vocabulary

Reading comprehension

Please read the short text about human rights violations and complete the missing word in the sentences.

What is the meaning of VIOLATION?

A state commits human rights violations either directly or indirectly. Violations can either be intentionally performed by the state and or come as a result of the state failing to prevent the violation. 

The violation can be physically violent, such as police brutality, while rights such as the right to a fair trial can also be violated, where no physical violance is involved. 

The second type of violation – failure by the state to protect – occurs when there’s a conflict between individuals or groups within a society. If the state does nothing to intervene and protect vulnerable people and groups, it’s participating in the violations. 

 

Useful Vocabulary:

  • Violation – not obeying rules or laws.
  • Prevent – keep (something) from happening.
  • Violent – using or involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something.
  • Fair Trial – an open trial by an impartial judge in which all parties are treated equally.
  • Vulnerable – (of a person) in need of special care, support, or protection because of age, disability, or risk of abuse or neglect. 

 

 

 

Complete the missing word in the sentences

1.       Human rights violations are committed by the

2.      Direct human rights violations can be   such as police brutality.

3.      Indirect human rights violations happen when the state fails to vulnerable people or groups.

4.      Indirect human rights happen when the state fails to the violation.

Discuss with your classmates the following questions.  

5.      What are human rights violations?

6.      Who commits human rights?

7.      What are the two types of human rights violations?

8.      What are direct human rights violations?

9.      What are indirect human rights violations?

Duration: 20 min

Learning outcome:

+  Self-reflection

+ Critical thinking

+  Reading comprehension

+ Understanding the categories of human rights

Language skills:

Vocabulary

Reading

Grammar

Comprehension

Look at the graph about human rights violations and read the text below.

Source: “A Significant and Substantial Increase in Documented Human Rights Violations in the First Six Months of 2019”, ND-BURMA, 2019

 

Useful Vocabulary:

  • Genocide – Killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group. 
  • Torture – Inflicting severe pain or suffering on someone as a punishment or in order to force them to do or say something.
  • Arbitary arrest – An individual is arrested and detained by a government without due process and without the legal protections of a fair trial.
  • Human trafficking – Transportation and transfer of people through force or deception, with the aim of exploiting them. 
  • Forced relocation – The forced movement of entire communities, usually by a government.
  • Contaminate – Make dirty. 

 

Decide if the following statements are TRUE or FALSE.

1. Civil and political rights are “first-generation” rights. 
2. Political rights are “first-generation” rights. 
3. Genocide, torture, and arbitrary arrest often happen during times of war.
4. Genocide is a violation of economic rights. 
5. Religious discrimination is not very common violation.
6. Human trafficking is the smallest human rights violation. 
7. Economic and social rights can be violated by states and other actors. 
8. Contaminating water is a violation of civil rights.
9. Forced relocation is a violation of socio-economic rights.