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Rights Around the World

A UDHR Jigsaw


From Introducing Human Rights in the Middle School
Source: Patrick Manson, Amnesty International USA Human Rights Educators' Network, 1996

Overview


This activity allows group participants to extend their knowledge of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) while learning about typical rights abuses around the world. It also provides a structure for collaborative learning within a group. Again, you may adjust this activity to fit the particular needs and interests of your group.

Objectives

  • To recognize abuses and affirmations of all of the articles of the UDHR
  • To learn about typical rights situations in specific countries
  • To work collaboratively and effectively with peers


Time

60-90 minutes; easily divided over more than one day

Materials

Copies of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Rights Around the World.

Procedure


  • Each participant gets a copy of the UDHR and Rights Around the World.

  • Divide participants into groups of 3-5. Each of these groups is assigned a different set of 3-6 sentences from the "Rights Around the World" handout.

  • Each group takes 15-20 minutes to find 2 or more articles from the UDHR that apply to each sentence. For example, take sentence 12: "Advocates for democracy in China are killed during a peaceful demonstration." This indicates an abuse of Article 3 (right to life) and an affirmation of Article 20 (freedom to assemble).

  • Now divide each group into new groups so that each new group has representative(s) from each of the old groups. The goal is to have each person be educated on all of the sentences from "Rights Around the World."

  • Once in new groups, participants report on the findings of their old group. At the end of reporting, each student will have written UDHR article numbers next to each sentence from "Rights Around the World." (30-45 minutes)

  • Discuss selected sentences as a whole group to check for understanding and pursue areas that interest participants. (at least 10 minutes)

Rights Around the World

  1. A person in the United States registers to vote.
  2. The Chinese government punishes a couple for having a second child.
  3. The government of Turkey burns down villages of Kurds - a people of southeast Turkey - and forces them to go to new towns.
  4. A Brazilian child is denied a school education because the family can't afford it.
  5. The Burmese military overthrows a democratically elected government.
  6. A criminal in El Salvador is held in jail for months without being charged with any crime.
  7. Burmese students demand that the ruling military allow for democratically elected government.
  8. A woman in India is forced to marry a man whom she does not want to marry.
  9. Garment workers in the U.S. are forced to work in unhealthy shops and go for months without pay.
  10. A Native American asserts his right to collect eagle feathers for a religious ceremony.
  11. Students in the Philippines gather to discuss current issues.
  12. Advocates for democracy in China are killed during a peaceful demonstration.
  13. Japanese-Americans during World War II are taken from their homes to live in camps.
  14. A racist government in South Africa gives up power by allowing for universal suffrage.
  15. An activist in Brazil starts a cooperative to provide food and education for homeless children.
  16. Students in Germany regularly read the newspaper about politics in their country and human rights in other countries.
  17. Native people on the coast of Nicaragua establish a university to maintain their cultural traditions and better the education of their people.
  18. Students and teachers in Nicaragua are attacked by police while peacefully protesting government cuts in funding for education.
  19. Parents of children with birth defects in the area of Chernobyl demand information from the Russian government on the effects of a nuclear accident.
  20. Children in Pakistan are not allowed to go to school but are forced to work in carpet factories for little pay and long hours.
  21. A teacher insults a student for incorrectly answering a question.
  22. A Black South African runs for public office.
  23. A teenager defends a friend who has been insulted by peers because of religious views expressed.
  24. Students in the U.S. and Canada write letters to Pakistan and India to end forced child labor.
  25. Workers in Poland demand the right to form a union.
  26. A terrorist group from Ireland bombs a public restaurant in England.
  27. Ethnic Ogoni people in Nigeria protest the mining of oil in their traditional homeland.
  28. Palestinians demonstrate for statehood.
  29. Australian aborigines regain land taken by the government and are allowed to make official their names for traditional landmarks.
  30. A woman in Saudi Arabia is punished for not wearing a veil over her face, which is against the law.


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