Partnerss Human Rights Program - MINNESOTA ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION PROGRAM
Program Page

The Human Rights Education Program is designed to introduce international human rights and responsibilities to K-12 students. It uses the framework of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child to help students understand and appreciate common human values, encourages them to apply international standards to their own lives, and supports positive student action to remedy human rights violations in their own communities. Teams of volunteer lawyers and community activists collaborate with teachers to introduce basic human rights concepts, create case study curriculum focusing on areas of student interest, and empower students to exercise their activist potential through specific projects.

Using international human rights standards as stated in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, community members join classroom teachers to give students an understanding of human rights and explore their role in protecting the human rights of all people.

You are invited to
Rhythm & Rights:
A Celebration of Human Rights Education

Saturday, May 11^th 12-4 p.m. Loring Park
1382 Willow Street, Minneapolis

Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights has recently initiated a program called RIGHTS Sites through which area schools are encouraged to engage in human rights education. AS the end of the school year approaches MAHR plans to host "Rhythm and Rights", a concert festival to recognize the work that schools, teachers and students have done in this pilot year of the RIGHTS Sites program.

Local performers will include Billy Franklin (a Venezuelan pop/rock singer), the Rehoboth International Oromo Choir, Robert Everest (a musician inspired by Latin American culture who performs in Spanish and Portuguese), and Yawo Didier Attivor (who performs American, African, and Brazilian songs), among others. We also plan to feature local youth performers in the concert.

This event is free and open to the public.

Come with your friends and family!

We will provide refreshments, and there will be fun activities for participants.

Any questions?

Contact Megan Powers (612)-341-3302 ext. 112 [email protected]

The three main purposes of the Education Program are: (1) to motivate students to work for the benefit of others fostering equality and human dignity; (2) to provide educational opportunities where students experience personal success and recognize their value as persons; and (3) to foster connections between learning about human rights and practicing human responsibilities in the community. An understanding of human rights and responsibilities changes attitudes and behaviors to realize a more just society.

Highlights

The Education Program makes universal human rights meaningful to Minnesota students in their classrooms, homes, and neighborhoods as they grapple with the problems of homelessness, discrimination, violence and poverty. Education teams made up of volunteer lawyers, community representatives and teachers use interactive teaching methods to relate human rights concepts to situations that impact students lives. Students learn that they have the responsibility to defend and advocate for the human rights of others. Defending or advocating for the rights of others could mean starting an anti-violence or anti-discrimination campaign in their school, writing letters and petitions addressing inadequate housing and health care for people living in the United States, or demanding an end to the use of children for cheap labor.

The Education Program volunteer educators are encouraged to apply for classroom grants through the Community Action Fund. Students and program volunteers develop community action projects which educate or address local community human rights concerns. The small grants provide students with the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to solve local human rights problems and become responsible members of their communities.

The Education Program created a curriculum designed to educate K-12 students on human rights and activism. There are three parts to the curriculum: 1) Students as Activists; 2) Understanding Immigration; and 3) Land Usage and Indigenous Rights. Each section contains lesson plans, background information, classroom activities, and a bibliography. For purchasing information, please contact the Education Program at 612-341-3302, or use the order form on the Education Program web page.