Normes et ressources utiles du Conseil de l'Europe
Human Rights Education in COVID-19 times
The Covid-19 pandemic is having a negative impact on the human rights of many people, especially vulnerable groups. Social rights are particularly hit, starting with the right to health then including the right to employment and education. The situation of some vulnerable groups is particularly grave.
Knowing one’s rights is a necessary step to protecting them and to respecting the rights of others.
The Council of Europe has developed a series of educational resources which are of great value for self-learning, for discussing with others and to enjoy learning about human rights.
Here are a selection of the most popular ones. We encourage you to use them and also to adapt them to online communication.
To keep in mind:
Human rights Education is learning about human rights, learning through Human rights and learning for Human Rights.
Read more in Compass, chapter 1.
BEWARE WE ARE WATCHING!
What is the real price of the clothes you are wearing? Not just the price you paid, but what are their impact on the planet and the people who produced them?
You can do this as a self-learning activity or propose it to other people – perhaps you can compare with your friends online?
ENTER! DIGNITYLAND
In this card game, the players are members of parliament in a country called Dignityland.
They have to decide on the social policies concerning social rights within a development plan for the next five years. Through debate and decision-making processes, players learn more about social rights and their links to social policies. This is particularly interesting in times when social rights risk being sacrificed by the economic crisis.
You can download the instructions and the cards for printing.
The game also exists in French, Armenian, Portuguese and Ukrainian.
FREEDOM UNLIMITED?
In this activity from the publication “Bookmarks”, participants explore the idea of freedom of expression using a number of case studies.
They need to decide what to do with comments or communications which are controversial, abusive or potentially dangerous. Originally developed to raise awareness about online hate speech, the activity is fully relevant today. It is also very good to play online because you can share links and screen shots.
You can download Bookmarks, the activity is on page 69.
GOOD, BETTER, BEST
It is a sad and widespread reality that gender-based violence, in particular domestic violence, has increased with COVID-19.
This activity illustrates gender stereotypes and the way society considers ‘feminine’ and ‘masculine’ characteristics desirable or undesirable. These stereotypes contribute to the acceptance of gender-based violence.
This activity is also easily adapted for online usage with people of any sex or gender.
You can use it from the online version of Gender Matters, the manual to address gender-based violence affecting young people – Good, Better, Best.
The latest version of the Gender Matters contains many other activities to prevent gender-based violence.
GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS
In this “good news, bad news” game participants continue a short narrative about a Roma girl with health concerns. It starts with “My name is Tsura…”, and then you complete the rest of her story with your friends, relatives or your students.
This activity can be found in Mirrors, a manual to combat antigypsyism through human rights education.
You can download the manual free of charge. The activity can be found on page 92.
The manual has also other excellent activities and information about antigypsyism.
JUST A MINUTE!
Are you missing sports? In this Compass activity, people have to be quick and inventive to talk for one minute on the relationship between sports and human rights. It is fun, can be played online and is easily adapted to any other theme.
Discover Just a Minute.
READING THE RULES
Perhaps it is now finally the time to read those terms of service and community rules?
In this activity participants discover the terms of use or community guidelines of a website and take steps to report inappropriate content to the website. Participants also discuss what the advantages and disadvantages of reporting hate speech and online abuse are.
When you download Bookmarks, the activity is on page 102.
RIGHTS BINGO!
This is a simple quiz and variation of the game, Bingo! in which people share their knowledge and experiences of human rights.
Use it as starter in activities or with your friends online.
See how to use Rights Bingo in Compass.
UNDERSTANDING HATE SPEECH
It is widely reported that hate speech has increased with COVID-19 and confinement.
This simple activity helps with understanding why hate speech is dangerous by looking at specific examples and discussing potential consequences for individuals and society.
To practice at any time – and of course you may enrich it with the examples you find online.
First, download Bookmarks. The activity is on page 125.
WHY IS HATE SPEECH A PROBLEM? - THE NINJAS EXPLAIN!
The No Hate Ninjas created a Story about cats, unicorns and hate speech for the No Hate Speech Movement campaign.
Take a look and share this video that remains a must in times of risk of human rights abuse.
What is it? - Discover Compass