Human Rights Day at school

20 Years Human Rights

https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/

"As we commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, let us intensify our efforts to fulfill our collective responsibility to promote and protect the rights and dignity of all people everywhere."

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

The UN General Assembly proclaimed 10 December as Human Rights Day in 1950, to bring to the attention ‘of the peoples of the world’ the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.

http://www.ohchr.org/

In 2013, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights marks 20 years since its establishment.

The United Nations General Assembly created the mandate of High Commissioner for the promotion and protection of all human rights in December 1993. The General Assembly was acting on a recommendation from delegates to the World Conference on Human Rights held in Vienna earlier the same year.

http://en.unesco.org/

"To realise freedom and equality in dignity and rights for all women and men, we must do everything to support countries in meeting the Millennium Development Goals by 2015."

Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General

Theme:

This year’s theme will focus on "inclusion and the right to participation in public life."

"The open and global network offers you that chance to be a part of public matters and provides a platform for you to help influence the decisions that shape your communities. 

It has given a voice to the voiceless, pushed the boundaries of human innovation, built new communities, and helped them flourish in a way that was previously unimagined."

http://www.ihrb.org/

This year we have a chance to celebrate the Internet as a tool that’s helped enable universal rights such as freedom of opinion and expression, to peaceful assembly and association, and to take part in the conduct of public affairs (articles 19, 20 and 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Photo: Li Qihua | Rex Features

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/

Education:

But nothing better to celebrate Human Rights Day than remember Nelson Mandela. UNESCO pay tribute to Nelson Mandela,  UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and his legacy here

"We give thanks for his life, his leadership, his devotion to humanity and humanitarian causes."

Nelson Mandela Foundation

Education should encompass values such as peace, non-discrimination, equality, justice, non-violence, tolerance and respect for human dignity. 

Quality education based on a human rights approach means that rights are implemented throughout the whole education system and in all learning environments.

All schools and other educational institutions make a special effort to inform children of their rights according to the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. 

Credits: OECD

http://i0.wp.com/

Teachers have a crucial role on the alert of poverty or child labour cases among their students.

In our days, teachers help students draw attention to situations like students living below poverty line in their own schools, or countries.

Let us draw inspiration from some good actions to strengthen respect for human rights to children and young people. 

Activities:

Please consult my post "Human Rights Day & New Generations" here

Children's Rights

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/

The United Nations Human Rights office is organizing a Google+ Hangout on the 12th December, at 4:00pm until 4:30pm in UTC+01 to discuss child rights, access to justice for children and the new Optional Protocol to the Convention on the rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure. 

The Google+ Hangout will be moderated by James Heenan, the Chief of the Human Rights Treaties Division at the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR).

Participants will include Anita Goh, Advocacy Officer at Child Rights Connect, Olga A. Khazova, Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and Hatem Kotrane, Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Take part in the conversation via:

• Twitter

• Google+ 

• Facebook

Send your questions to the participants using hashtag #Justice4Kids.

"Nelson Mandela changed the world and made it a better place. He taught us all a lesson on the power of peace and  reconciliation;  the importance of forgiveness and respect for the dignity of each and every human being."

Irina Bokova, tribute

G-Souto

10.12.2013

Copyright © 2013G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®

Human Rights Day at school by G-Souto is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Civics Education: Mandela International Day

"Nelson Mandela’s achievements came at great personal cost to himself and his family. His sacrifice not only served the people of his own nation, South Africa, but made the world a better place for all people, everywhere… He showed the way. He changed the world."

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Today is Mandela International Day. Every year, on Mandela Day, people around the world are asked by the Nelson Mandela Foundation to devote 67 minutes of time to helping others, as a way to mark Nelson Mandela International Day.

18 July 2013 – The United Nations today marks Nelson Mandela International Day, celebrating the South African leader’s 95th birthday and honoring his dedication to public service, social justice and reconciliation, inspiring millions around the world.

In November 2009, the UN General Assembly declared 18 July "Nelson Mandela International Day" in recognition of the former South African President’s contribution to the culture of peace and freedom.

The overarching objective of Mandela Day is to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better, and in doing so build a global movement for good. Ultimately it seeks to empower communities everywhere. “Take Action; Inspire Change; Make Every Day a Mandela Day.”

By devoting 67 minutes of their time – one minute for every year of Mr. Mandela’s public service – people can make a small gesture of solidarity with humanity and a step towards a global movement for good.

UN staff around the world have made a difference through a variety of activities in the past – from offering school supplies to children, to preparing meals for the elderly, helping out in an orphanage, cleaning up parks, and delivering computer literacy workshops.

http://www.mandeladay.com/

Education:

“The heart of Nelson Mandela International Day is good works for people and the planet. Its theme…is meant to mobilize the human family to do more to build a peaceful, sustainable and equitable world,” (...) . “This is the best tribute we can pay to an extraordinary man who embodies the highest values of humanity.”

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Students are enjoying summer holidays. But "Mandela Day" is every day. So, when they return in August/ September, teachers can invite the students to take action and inspire change by celebrating a "Mandela Day at school". 

Ask your students to make small gestures of solidarity with humanity by spending 67 minutes in a week. Introduce Civics activities in a cross-curricular plan.

http://whitesci.co.za/

Some activities:

• Make a new friend. Get to know someone in the school from a different cultural background and through mutual understanding rid intolerance and xenofobia.

• Read to someone who can't. Visit a local home for old people or for blind people and open up a new world for someone else.

• Help someone at the supermarket, on the street or someone who is a bit lost in the city or can't find the right bus, for example.

• Visit an hospital and speak to ill people or ill children. Take a little time to have a chat and bring some sunshine into their lives.

• Grab blankets that you no longer need from home and give them to homeless people.

• Help out at a local animal shelter. Dogs and cats without homes still need a walk or a bit of love.

• Make a Peace concert at school by writing some lyrics about peace, social inclusion and adjusting to a tune that students love. Invite the local community to listen it.

• Deliver computer literacy workshops to older people in school (grandparents, neighbours,  community).

Literacy is probably the most important skill for an individual to acquire and develop. An empowerment tool that gives access to further education and new opportunities. 
ICT skills complete the education of all in our days. 

However, humanity is the most important value.

Google doodle 2014

doodler : Kate Wu

https://lh4.ggpht.com/

In July 18, 2014, Google is celebrating the anniversary of #Mandela’s birth with an interactive Doodle. Starting with an illustration of the former leader, visitors can click through a number of his most well-known quotes, coupled with illustrations depicting stages of his 'Long Walk to Freedom'.

We could not miss it ! Please think on this subject to make the difference at your school.

"We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference"

Nelson Mandela

G-Souto

16.07.2013

Copyright © 2013G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®

Update : Google doodle, 18 July 2014

18.07.2014

Civics Education: Mandela International Day by G-Souto is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.