Human Rights Class in a Box for Higher Education

Class in a Box

The Preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) exhorts “every individual and every organ of society” to “strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms.” The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) declares that a government “may not stand in the way of people learning about their rights.”

Lack of knowledge about human rights can make individuals, especially students and young adults, more vulnerable to having their rights violated. Without an understanding of their rights, individuals may not be able to effectively exercise them or advocate for themselves. Human rights education is therefore an essential tool for promoting and protecting human rights.

Human Rights Class in a Box for Higher Education:

International Solidarity for Human Rights offers a range of programs, workshops, presentations, and orientation sessions that can be integrated into class curricula and used as Service-Learning Programs in colleges and universities.

The Human Rights Class in a Box program, as we discussed earlier, is designed for elementary school students, but International Solidarity for Human Rights can also offer presentations and workshops for high school and college students. These programs are designed to be engaging and interactive and can help students learn about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and their own role in promoting and protecting human rights.

In addition to presentations and workshops, International Solidarity for Human Rights can also offer talks and orientation sessions for college and university students. These sessions are designed to provide students with a deeper understanding of human rights issues and to equip them with the knowledge and skills to become advocates for human rights in their own communities.

Academic Service-Learning (A-S-L): is learning achieved through service while applying curriculum taught in class.

Service-Learning: A teaching and learning approach that integrates community service with academic study to enrich learning, teach civic responsibility and strengthen communities.

“When education takes a hands-on approach to learning, the result is a more informed, more involved community of future leaders. Service learning brings substance to democracy and strengthens the thread that binds our diverse nation”.

Some Benefits for the students engaged in Human Rights Education integrated into Academic Service-Learning: 

There are numerous benefits for students engaged in human rights education integrated into academic service-learning, including:

  1. Develops critical thinking skills: Human rights education promotes critical thinking by challenging students to analyze and evaluate complex social issues.
  2. Fosters empathy and understanding: By learning about the experiences and struggles of individuals and groups whose human rights have been violated, students develop empathy and understanding for those who may be different from themselves.
  3. Promotes active citizenship: Human rights education encourages students to become active and engaged members of their communities, working to promote social justice and equality.
  4. Enhances communication skills: Through discussions, debates, and presentations, students develop strong communication skills and learn to express themselves effectively.
  5. Encourages teamwork and collaboration: Many human rights education programs involve group projects and collaborative activities, which help students develop teamwork and collaboration skills.
  6. Provides opportunities for leadership development: By taking an active role in promoting human rights and social justice, students can develop leadership skills and confidence in their ability to effect change.
  7. Prepares students for the global workforce: In an increasingly interconnected world, knowledge of human rights issues and cross-cultural understanding is becoming more important for success in the global workforce.