A manual for teaching human rights
'Siniko' is a word in Bambara, Mandingo and Dioula which means literally 'tomorrow's business'. It translates loosely into 'things that the future holds' or 'what we want for future generations'. Human rights education is aimed at the development of the skills, knowledge and attitudes that people need to work towards a world free of human rights violations. It is in the hope of a better tomorrow that we choose to teach about human rights.
This manual is for teachers and educators in Africa who work with young people both in formal and non-formal educational environments and who want to introduce human rights in their teaching practices. It is designed as a basic introduction, with advice on methodology, activities for older and younger children and ideas for action. The approach stresses the practical rather than the theoretical. The intention is that educators can take this material and adapt it to suit their own circumstances and context.
'Siniko' has been produced by Amnesty International as part of the worldwide campaign to mark the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 1998. Its publication is also intended to highlight the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education (1995-2004) and the Organization of African Unity (OAU) Decade for Education (1997-2006).
How to use the manual
This manual is divided into six parts. Part One explains what human rights are and what we understand by human rights education. It also answers some common questions about human rights education. Part Two contains useful teaching methods, ideas for designing your own teaching activities and how they can be incorporated into the curriculum, as well as information on evaluation. Parts Three and Four contain example activities for older and younger children which can be adapted to suit your own circumstances and context. For reference purposes, Part Five contains the full or simplified text of selected human rights documents and Part Six has ideas for networking, organizing your own workshop and lists of useful resources.
You are free to photocopy, adapt or translate all or parts of this manual according to your own needs.
To make them easier to use, the activities in Parts Three and Four are designed with the same format.
It is important to read through each activity before attempting it, and to check that you have all the items listed under ''What you need''. You are also advised to plan the session carefully, and to work out an appropriate timeframe for every activity.
Educators should familiarize themselves with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and other relevant human rights documents and instruments, including your country's Constitution or Bill of Rights. You are encouraged not to lecture on a topic for more than 10 minutes, and thereafter to involve the participants in an activity. Educational research has shown that students learn much more effectively through interactive or participatory methods of teaching.
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The state of the world's human rights
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