Human Rights Education

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LESSON PLAN


FREEDOM FROM SLAVERY

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Objective


Resources Required


Article 4 poster

Prior to the lesson print out a variety of images from the following websites to show slavery of the past and today:

Modern day images of slavery
http://www.iabolish.com/today/photo.htm
www.antislavery.org
Historical images of slavery
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/index.html
(Look down to sections 3b and 4b to find a selection of images depicting slavery in the United States)

Process

  1. Introduce the class to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by working through the 'UDHR Introductory Activity'.
  2. Now ask the class to study the poster illustrating Article 4 of the UDHR, Freedom from slavery, and then pose the following questions for discussion:
    • What image is used on this poster?
    • Why do you think this image has been used?
    • What other images could have been used instead?
  3. Carry out a class vote to determine students' views on whether or not slavery continues to exist today. Ask individual students to explain their views.
  4. Explain that millions of people around the world continue to be exploited as slaves today. Give the following information:

    Although the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1956 UN Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery prohibit slavery it does still exist around the world. In fact, millions of men, women and children around the world are forced to lead lives as slaves. Although this exploitation is often not called slavery, the conditions are the same. People are bought and sold, forced to work for little or no pay and are at the mercy of their 'employers'.

    Several forms of slavery exist today, for example bonded labor (people forced to pay back small loans by working 7 days a week, 365 days a year and they may never be able to pay off these debts), child labor including work in the sex trade, forced marriages, human trafficking, and traditional slavery.

    For more information, please go to the Anti-slavery International web site at: http://www.antislavery.org/homepage/antislavery/modern.htm

  5. Now display around the classroom the images of slavery you printed off prior to the lesson (see above at 'Resources' section of this lesson plan). Ask the students to study each of the images very carefully, noting the differences and similarities between slavery of the past and today. Discuss with the students their views on these images.
  6. Point out again that as little information is generally provided on the subject, many people are not aware that slavery continues to exist today. Using the historical and modern day images as stimuli, give the students the task of designing a piece of art work to inform people of the existence of slavery with the aim of motivating action.