The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets out the fundamental rights of all people that must be protected. Everyone is entitled to these rights, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Stories, short films, artwork, and lesson plans connected to each article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Stories, Art, and Short Films Recommended for Upper Elementary through High School Students
Access to Education
In some rural Indian villages, when boys completed grade seven, their family would buy them a bicycle to ensure they received a good education. With a bicycle, the commute to the high school would only be fifteen minutes. However, when girls completed grade seven they would not receive bicycles and would have to walk an hour each way to school. Learn how having a bicycle allows girls to continue their education in rural India.
In India, Educate Girls works to make education accessible to girls, mobilizing communities to help girls achieve their full potential.
India has the highest number of girls out of school and the highest number of child brides than anywhere on the planet. In many rural villages in India, a critical gender gap exists. Educate Girls has created an army working towards equal access to education for girls.
Child Slavery and Labor
Students read the story and analyze the art about Iqbal Masih, a child from Pakistan who was sold into slavery by his father when he was 4 and escaped slavery at the age of 10. He began speaking internationally and was awarded the Reebok Human Rights Youth Award when he was 12 years old.
Iqbal Masih was a Pakistani Christian boy who became a symbol of abusive child labour in the developing world
Iqbal Masih was a brave advocate for child labor laws in Pakistan.
Students watch the following film and read the story to learn about Vivienne Harr who, at the age of 8, founded Make a Stand Lemon-Aid to raise funds for organizations that fight child slavery.
Young Vivienne Harr was deeply affected by the story of children suffering from human trafficking. So she founded Make a Stand Lemon-aid to raise fund for organizations that fight child slavery.
Vivienne Harr founded Make a Stand Lemon-aid to raise fund for organizations that fight child slavery.
Art Activist Tom Block began the Human Rights Painting Project in 2002 to raise awareness of human rights issues around the world, as well as to support the work of Amnesty International. Among the goals of that vital group are ensuring fair, prompt trials for political prisoners; abolishing torture and other ill treatment of incarcerated persons; and ending political killings and "disappearances." The Project also seeks freedom for all "prisoners of conscience" — people who have been detained for their political, religious or other beliefs or their national or ethnic origin, color, sex or other status.
Jacqueline Moudeina has received numerous death threats — unintended consequences of her distinction as one of Chad's most prominent human rights lawyers.
The Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, has been lauded worldwide for his philosophy and practice of peace, non-violence, universal responsibility, and compassion.
He was imprisoned on November 9, 1993 for having proposed a military ombudsman, a human rights defender for both civilians and the military for the improper actions of the Army. Amnesty International considered him a prisoner of conscience.
Gjergj Komnino spent 25 years in an Albanian prison for "anti-Communist crimes" before seeking asylum. Tom Block celebrated him in the Human Rights Painting Project.
View additional portraits by Tom Block Here
1. How does Tom Block get the viewer to be sympathetic to his human rights subjects?
2. What kinds of stylistic qualities does Block employ to draw the viewer in?
3. What is an art activist? How does this kind of artist differ from other less politically or socially motivated artists?
4. What other kinds of artworks successfully raise our consciousness for causes? Photographs? Posters? Short animated films?
5. What issues or causes are important to you? Create an original piece of activist artwork to submit to the MY HERO Gallery.
By carefully looking at Tom Block’s portraits of Human Rights Prisoners/Victims, we see people who have been tortured or incarcerated, or mistreated by the regimes under which they live and work to change. Their faces are expressionistically painted and distorted to draw attention to their inhumane treatment. Block also writes a lengthy explanation about each of his sitters to underline their individual plights. The combination of image and words is powerful in the case of the Human Rights Painting Project.
Learn about Human Rights Through Movies: Recommended for Middle and High School Students
I am a #youngworker combines worker experience and research data into a powerful and artistic animated story.
One in three girls around the world is denied an education by the daily realities of poverty, conflict or discrimination.
1. Why are Human Rights important?
2. Who are the heroes in these films, and what makes them heroic?
3. How can filmmaking be a form of activism?
4. Which of these films impacted you most personally? Why?
After viewing these films and having a class discussion, students will have a greater understanding of human rights as a global issue. Students are encouraged to stand up for their rights and the rights of others, both in their community and globally.
These Four Stories Highlight Heroes Around the World Fighting for Inalienable Rights: Recommended for Middle and High School Students.
Students read these four stories highlighting heroes around the world fighting for inalienable rights, and then consider the discussion questions and activities.
Linda Sarsour, from New York, was co-chair of the 2017 and 2019 Women's March, has been involved in organizational efforts Black Lives Matter, and spoke out against the Muslim travel ban.
Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian lawyer and former judge, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for fighting for the rights of women, children and refugees.
Frank Mugisha is a Ugandan LGBT advocate who won the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award.
Story Discussion Questions and Activities
1. Each of these stories highlighted a human rights activist hero. Research current global human rights issues.
2. What is a human rights cause you believe in? Who is making a positive difference?
3. What can you do? Create an action plan and get others involved.
Use the multimedia resource showcase link to learn more about John Lewis who dedicated his life to advancing human rights and civil liberties.
Use the multimedia showcase link below to learn more about Nelson Mandela, South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and human rights activist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999.
From the UN official website: Learn about the women who helped shape the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Using the Link Below
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The Human Rights Day lesson plan was created by MY HERO Education Outreach Director Laura Nietzer. |
Illustrated Version of the UN Declaration of Human Rights
This illustrated edition of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is published by the United Nations in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
MY HERO Calendars for use in the Classroom
Learn about a New Hero Every Day of the Year: Use the MY HERO Calendar in the Classroom
MY HERO's Teachers Calendar Features Lesson Plans and Multimedia Resources
Learn more about Human Rights Day from the United Nations website.
Human Rights Campaign is the largest LGBT civil rights advocacy group in the United States.
Students can share their Hero Essays, Films and Art through our Create Program
How to use MY HERO's Create Program to Publish Stories, Art, Film and Audio for Students
Tutorial for students: Publish written stories, film, original artwork and audio in MY HERO's multimedia library.
Outstanding essays submitted to MY HERO will be considered for a certificate/t-shirt prize or be featured on the Story Homepage.
Submit your artwork to be entered in the MY HERO art contest or to be exhibited on our Gallery Homepage.
Students can submit their films for free with a waiver to the MY HERO International Film Festival.
Organizer created on 11/5/2019 1:46:19 PM by Laura Nietzer
Last edited 11/7/2024 4:17:30 PM by Laura Nietzer
