4.4: Taking a stand

In this activity students are introduced to strategies used by human rights activists to draw attention to human rights abuses.

Tasks

Create cards using Handout 16: Proactivism. Introduce this activity by explaining that human rights activists along with other activists use various strategies to draw attention to human rights issues.
Ask students to form groups of three or four. Distribute a card to each of the groups asking students to discuss the meaning of each strategy and to describe what might be involved in implementing it. Students may use dictionaries or other reference materials to assist.
Ask each group to report back to the class on their particular strategy.
Ask students to write down a human rights issue on which they feel they would personally take a stand. Then ask students to list the strategies they would use to draw attention to this issue.
Ask students to report back to the class on the strategies they would use. Record the strategies on the board or on butcher's paper.
Lead a class discussion on the possible consequences and impact of each of the strategies.

Teacher Notes

This activity may be conducted over several sessions.
Depending on the language level and personal experiences of students, more time may need to be devoted to defining human rights issues and strategies.
Some students, such as refugee students, may have had personal experience with human rights abuses. Teachers should ensure that these discussions are conducted sensitively.

Activity adapted from Forms of Proactivism in HALL, Nadia Saderman, Creative Resources for the Anti-Bias Classroom, Delmar Publishers, 1999.

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