What tools are used by human rights defenders around the world?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain what is meant by duty bearer injustice, and explain how human rights defenders can take action.
Key learning points
- Injustice can take many forms, such as discrimination, lack of access to education, or unfair treatment by authorities.
- Human rights defenders are individuals or groups who work to protect and promote the human rights of others.
- Duty bearers, such as a government have the responsibility to protect and uphold human rights.
- Defenders use tools such as protest, social media, legal action, petitions, and education to challenge injustice.
- Action can lead to real change by raising awareness, influencing law, or supporting those affected by injustice.
Keywords
Human rights - basic rights and freedoms that all people are entitled to
Duty bearer - someone who has a responsibility or obligation to do something, like protect people's rights or follow the rules
Common misconception
Governments always protect human rights fairly and equally for everyone.
While governments are duty bearers, they don’t always protect everyone’s rights. In some cases, they may ignore, limit, or even violate rights, which is why human rights defenders are important because they hold duty bearers to account.
Teacher tip
When discussing case studies where duty bearers fail to uphold rights, create a safe and respectful environment. Be mindful pupils may have family connections to countries discussed. Encourage pupils to ask questions, listen to different views, and reflect critically without placing blame.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the word with its correct definition.
persuading someone in Parliament to support a cause or change a law
group of MPs or Lords that investigates and reports on key issues
MP meeting where local people share issues or concerns with them
a proposed law from an MP or Lord who is not in government
Q2.When a bill becomes a law, what is it known as?
Q3.Which lobbying group successfully persuaded the government to ban smoking in enclosed public places?
Q4.Lauren Backler met with her MP at her local surgery. What health issue did she want her MP to address in Parliament?
Q5.Which tool was used to create the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021?
Q6.Anyone with relevant knowledge or experience can give evidence at what?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the name given to the basic rights and freedoms that all people are entitled to?
Q2.What is a duty bearer?
Q3.What are human rights defenders?
Q4.Which tools can be used by human rights defenders?
Q5.Match the human rights defenders with the best fit description.
right to education
uncovered and reported Soviet-era crimes
global human rights organisation
anti-war journalist
Iranian human rights activist
monitors human rights violations in Iran and reports abuses
Q6.Choose the challenges human rights defenders might face.
To help you plan your 10 citizenship lesson on: What tools are used by human rights defenders around the world?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 citizenship lesson on: What tools are used by human rights defenders around the world?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 citizenship lessons from the What tools can we use to challenge injustice in our communities? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.