Universal Declaration of Human Rights
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On the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, 10 December 2006, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA) is promoting awareness of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through various activities. Events will focus on the rights to life, peace, and equality designated within the boundaries of the Declaration and mobilized by the internationally celebrated Manifesto written by the Fundación Cultura de Paz (Culture of Peace Foundation), Spain.
Do You Know Your Human Rights?
(open to the public)
The BA is inviting you to share your thoughts and express yourself. In 25 words or less, tell us what Human Rights means to you.
Take the lead. Know your rights.
Please email your expressions to infobib@bibalex.org with subject heading Do You Know Your Human Rights?, or submit your phrases to the nearest reference desk.
In addition, the BA cordially invites the public to a movie and a lecture by Dr. Yehia El Gamal (former Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Cairo University Constitutional Law professor) on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the BA Conference Center, Small Theater, at 10 am.
ABC’s of Human Rights
(by invitation only)
In order to promote awareness of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to high school students, the BA has designed an active day of role playing, art, discussion, and much more. 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students, from schools all over Alexandria, are invited to participate alongside local NGO members, BA staff, and distinguished speakers, as they actively learn the reasons behind the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
YOUR SCHOOL’S ROLE
Each invited school will be asked to select 20 students from grades 10-12 to participate in the ABC’s of Human Rights. All students must complete the Taking the human rights temperature of your school activity prior to the event.
In addition, schools are asked to provide artistic impressions of the Declaration. This may include paintings, drawings, poetry, writings, theatrical performances, and much more, reflecting individual students’ perceptions on their human rights. All artistic projects should be submitted by Wednesday, 6 December in order to be added to the exhibition. Projects will be judged by a selected panel and winners will be awarded (all participants will receive certificates of participation).
THE RIGHT TO LEARN YOUR RIGHTS
Explain that education about and for human rights is itself an internationally agreed human right. Ask students:
—What do people need to know about human rights?
—Why are human rights education important? Do some people need it more than others? If so, who? And why?
—How should human rights be taught?
—How do human rights differ from other school subjects? (e.g. they involve action as well as knowledge)?
—How can students themselves learn about human rights?
TEACHER RESOURCES
1. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (http://www.unhchr.ch/udhr/index.htm)
2. The Fundación Cultura de Paz (Culture of Peace Foundation) Manifesto (http://www.fund-culturadepaz.org/PEACE.htm)
3. BA bibliography of additional resources on Human Rights (from BA reference desks)
4. Teaching Human Rights: Practical activities for primary and secondary schools (http://www.ohchr.org/english/about/publications/training.htm)
5. CyberSchoolBus (http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/)
Click here for the tentative program.