New Media Academy: Human Rights Resources to Support Chinua Achebe Novel: Things Fall Apart and World History Classes

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”—Article 1, United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The Avalon Project: Declaration of the Rights of Man

United for Human Rights Web Pages


Human Rights Education Resources For Students: UN Human Rights Treaties and Programs

This section for students lists websites and print resources with information regarding UN human rights treaties and educational programs to support a deeper understanding of international human rights.

Office of High Comissioner for Human Rights

The OHCHR spearheads global efforts to protect and promote human rights. The website has quick links to human rights treaties, issues, education and training, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with which the OHCHR works. A few highlights within this site...

Human Rights by Topic http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Pages/ListOfIssues.aspx 
What are Human Rights http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Pages/WhatareHumanRights.aspx

UDHR in 36 languages http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Core Human Rights Treaties http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/index.htm

Human Rights in Action: The United Nations Cyber School Bus

www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/humanrights/index.asp

The U.N. Cyber School Bus project aims to collect inspiring stories of schools defending and promoting human rights in communities, neighborhoods, and cities. Resources include an interactive UDHR and ready-to-print handouts such as a plain language UDHR, vocabulary list and quotes on human rights.

World Programme for Human Rights Education

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/education/training/programme.htm

As part of the UN High Commission for Human Rights this program promotes a common understanding of the basic principles and methodologies of human rights education provide a framework for action. The website offers concrete strategies and practical ideas for implementing human rights education.

UNICEF

http://www.unicef.org/index.php

UNICEF is the leading international advocate for children’s rights. Their website contains a plethora of resources including photos essays, global statistics on the state of children, Voices of Youth digital diaries, discussion forums for youth, podcasts of young voices from conflict areas, CRC video contest and much more.

Clapham, Andrew. Human Rights: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007. As the title suggests, Clapham offers an introduction to the historical and philosophical origins of human rights. The book also provides a focus on current issues such as Guantanamo Bay and Darfur.

For Students: Human Rights Issues and Advocacy:

This section is intended to assist students in researching human rights issues. Students may also find useful information through local and national news outlets or by interviewing local activists. Many of the following organizations include opportunities for students to get involved in a human rights issue.

Amnesty International USA

http://www.amnestyusa.org/

AI provides extensive background information by region and issue. They also have a dedicated section for young activists with opportunities to take action for human rights. Be sure to take a look at their Activist Toolkit, Music for Human Rights campaign and Protect the Human program.

Free the Children

http://www.freethechildren.com/we/index.php

Started by a 12-year old in 1995, Free the Children is an international development organization that is focused on youth empowerment. FTC is engaged in community-based development in at least a half-dozen countries.

UNICEF: Voices of Youth

http://www.unicef.org/index.php

UNICEF is the leading international advocate for children’s rights. Their website contains a plethora of resources including photos essays, global statistics on the state of children, Voices of Youth digital diaries, discussion forums for youth, podcasts of young voices from conflict areas, CRC video contest and much more.

Human Rights Watch

http://www.hrw.org/

One of the world’s leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights, HRW focuses international attention where human rights are violated, gives voice to the oppressed, and hold oppressors accountable for their crimes. The organization hosts an annual International Human Rights Film Festival. Their website lists human rights issues information by region and topic.

WITNESS

www.witness.org

WITNESS is a nonprofit organization that uses video and online technologies to build global awareness of human rights violations and empowers people to transform personal stories of abuse into powerful tools for justice, promoting public engagement and policy change. “The Hub” is their online video community where individuals can upload, share, and watch videos about human rights.

Human Rights First

www.humanrightsfirst.org

A non-profit, nonpartisan international human rights organization dedicated to protect persons at risk, including human rights advocates. Their focus is on building respect for the rule of law as a tool for protecting human rights. The well-documented reports by issue are extremely useful for research.

US Human Rights Network

http://www.ushrnetwork.org/

The website has a section entitled “Treaties & Declarations,” which lists and summarizes human rights treaties, declarations, and international human rights standards with appropriate links to each document.

Prepared by Sandy Sohcot, Executive Director of the Rex Foundation, Ellen Sebastian Chang, Creative Director and Andrea McEvoy Spero, Curriculum Development Team Member for the Rex Foundation human rights education program The World As It Could Be © September 2009 – September 2011