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Lesson 1 of 5
  • Year 11

Freedom: what is it and how is it protected?

I can use a range of methods to explain how freedom of religion or belief is guaranteed by Human Rights law.

Lesson 1 of 5
New
New
  • Year 11

Freedom: what is it and how is it protected?

I can use a range of methods to explain how freedom of religion or belief is guaranteed by Human Rights law.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Article 18 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights refers to freedom of religion or belief.
  2. It is the freedom to have, choose, change or leave a religion or belief.
  3. Freedom of religion or belief protects the individual and not the religion or belief.
  4. It also includes the freedom to practise or manifest a religion or belief.
  5. Freedom of religion or belief covers both religious and non-religious worldviews.

Keywords

  • Freedom - being able to believe what you want, or not believe at all, and being respected for that choice

  • Article 18 - one of the articles from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights referring to freedom of religion or belief

  • Violation - Human rights violations occur when fundamental freedoms and rights are disregarded, restricted, or denied

Common misconception

The right to freedom of religion or belief protects a religion from discrimination.

The right to freedom of religion or belief protects the individual not the religion.


To help you plan your year 11 religious education lesson on: Freedom: what is it and how is it protected?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

The Freedom of Religion or Belief learning platform has a series of 9 short films that cover different aspects of the right. They might be useful to share with pupils.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

5 Questions

Q1.
How can technology support thinking?

by removing experience
Correct answer: by providing instant information
by replacing the brain

Q2.
Personal can be weakened by overuse of technology.

Correct Answer: connection, Connection

Q3.
What is the biggest philosophical challenge AI raises?

cost
Correct answer: consciousness
speed

Q4.
The ability to feel pain is called .

Correct Answer: sentience, Sentience

Q5.
Why might AI challenge dignity?

it is expensive
Correct answer: it copies human traits
it replaces humans

Assessment exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Match each keyword to its meaning:

Correct Answer:freedom,being able to believe, or not believe at all without persecution

being able to believe, or not believe at all without persecution

Correct Answer:Article 18,in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on religious freedom

in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on religious freedom

Correct Answer:violation,when freedoms and rights are disregarded, restricted, or denied

when freedoms and rights are disregarded, restricted, or denied

Q2.
People have an right to choose their beliefs.

Correct Answer: absolute, Absolute

Q3.
Which is an example of manifesting religion?

changing belief
reading silently
Correct answer: wearing religious clothing

Q4.
Freedom of religion protects the , not the belief.

Correct Answer: person, Person, individual

Q5.
Who is protected by freedom of religion or belief?

Correct answer: religious and non-religious people
only religious people
only non-religious people

Q6.
Which is a common violation of freedom of religion or belief?

voting
Correct answer: hate crime
charity work