How to Teach a Child About Human Rights
Children develop empathy and compassion when they learn to appreciate the rights they have as U.S. citizens and the challenges that others face in countries where human rights are not guaranteed. Teaching your child the basics of human rights is like giving the gift of understanding.
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Instructions
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Teach your child about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 10, 1948. The Declaration includes a list of human rights that all world citizens should enjoy.
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Talk to your child about World War II and the context from which the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sprang. Magazines, such as "Cobblestone," and books by publishers, such as Dorling Kindersley, are good places to start for younger children. Parents of middle and high school-age children can do a guided reading of "The Diary of Anne Frank" or view "Hotel Rwanda" with their children and discuss the many issues these will raise.
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Use the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights' activities to teach children in primary and secondary school about human rights. The activities guide teachers and parents through approaches to teaching children about human rights. The index is clearly delineated for different age groups.
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Discuss current events with your child. Sadly, despite the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and ongoing efforts by organizations such as the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, there are human rights violations and atrocities in the news every day.
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Walk the walk, don't just talk the talk. Don't just teach children about human rights, model a respect for human rights in everything you do. Children learn by example. For example, draw connections for children by pointing out how a decision to buy fair trade products supports foreign countries that are trying to improve human rights for its workers.
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