How to Educate about Human Rights

All human beings have rights that have no distinction whatsoever, whether related to sex, ethnic origin, nationality, religion, color, language or any other condition. Their main characteristic is that they are indivisible, interdependent and interrelated.

The governments of each country have the obligation to protect these rights, disseminate them and, above all, the responsibility to act or stop acting in a certain way in certain situations that may directly affect the basic freedoms of individuals. They are Human Rights (HR).

It is clear that, although the school has become the main transmitter of education in values , it is also true that the media has a great influence on society, which is why it is a constant battle between what is says at school and what is received through those means

What is correct? On the other hand, the pillar of education in developed and developing countries tends to be science, technology and languages , so many times, the guidelines on Human Rights do not propose any connection with these topics.

It is almost impossible to enjoy a television space that is not adorned (advertising) with constant messages, in which these rights are violated. On the other hand, many of these spaces have acquired their popularity because their argument has to do with achieving victory at any cost, which includes total ignorance of these rights.

We just have to remember how the concept of war and murders mark the television grid through series, movies, video games and even cartoons.

The work of the teacher in the classroom and of the parents and/or guardians in the family has a great impact on the lives of children and young people when they are constantly called upon to care for and protect these rights.

Simple daily actions, good example, timely reflections, and projects in the classroom and community develop in children a broader sense of their human condition.

Human Rights are classified  into several categories : fundamental, social, economic, cultural, people’s rights or solidarity . In their different meanings they have a lot of material to be constantly linked with people’s daily lives and, above all, with any educational topic.

In this way, both the school , the family and the community have a totally leading role in the formation of values ​​in its citizens to be able to guarantee that these rights are protected from the very conscience of each one.

Among the multiple activities that can be carried out, it is worth highlighting:

– Training of Monitors who specialize in the subject and can support the school and the community in the dissemination work.

– Organization of activities within the classrooms that have values ​​such as theater, narratives, cultural content, children’s and youth musical concerts, etc.

– Teaching materials both at home and in the classroom that address the current problems of DH

– Create work tables , through the School for Parents , that allow unifying criteria between family and school.

– Identification exercises in our immediate environments (school, community and family) of signs that may be warning about the violation of any of these rights.