The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Teaching - Essay Example

TOPIC: Is it important for teachers in England to be familiar with the Universal declaration of human rights Support your with reference to particular issues The universal Declaration of Human Rights (U.D.H.R) was adopted by the U.N. in 1948 few years after the formation of the organization, and was first major achievement as pertaining to human rights. Prior to its adoption, the sovereignty of individual states also translated into how it relates with its citizens and such things as citizens/human rights were confined within the limits of the definition giving to it by the state. This was seen to have its drawbacks as the disparities in the treatment of human beings from state to state was obvious despite having being created equally. A radical departure from what was deemed right human treatments was witnessed during the Second World War between 1939 and 1945.With a Nazi government in power in Germany racial and religious discriminations were treated as official government policies. Victory for the allied forces precipitated the formation of a new body with world unity and respect for human rights as parts of its primary objectives. it was cardinal to this new world organization for there to be a "universal respect of human rights, sovereignty of the state in all other matters notwithstanding. 'Universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedom for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion."(article 55,United Nations Charter) depicts the importance attached to the human rights issue by the U.N. Consequently a commission on human rights was set up in 1946 to look into the various aspects of human rights. The product of the commissions work are the 30 articles contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.The first two articles focus on the equality of all humans in dignity and rights with entitlements to all rights and freedom contained in the declaration irrespective of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property ,birth or other status. Following suit from articles 3-21 are the civil and political rights also seen as fundamental rights of every human. A summary of articles 22-27 of the same document declares the economic, social and cultural rights of all human beings wherever they are found. Entitlement of all humans to social and international order with the motive of being recognized and respected as well as freedom of others and knowledge of an individuals civic obligations are spelt out in the last three articles of the document. U.D.H.R: Why Teachers should be familiar with its content The fact that adoption of the universal declaration of human rights was a major breakthrough in the issue of human rights cannot be overemphasized more so when you consider the fact that it is the foundation upon which all other documents and declarations are rooted. An in-depth knowledge of its content by teachers would inch England closer to the ultimate quest of universal for respect for human rights. As instructors in their various schools teachers in England are in daily contact with the people of diverse cultural and racial heritage that make up present day England. The intentions of the declaration was and still is to correct the societal ills of the Pre-UN era. This noble intention can be achieved by effective awareness and promotion campaigns with the vital tools of information and education highlighting the pivotal role teachers in England. When for instance racism is taken as a case study and making an assumption that given the literacy level in England, everybody has passed /is passing through one form of schooling or the other ,it would be right then to submit that teachers are capable of inculcating the values in the document condemning racist tendencies in their pupils/students and by extension tomorrows leaders, if and when they themselves are familiar with its content. It should also be remembered that England was a major constituent of the allied forces that brought the Nazi government in Germany to an end and was also at the forefront during the formative years of the U.N and subsequently the document on the universal declaration of human rights. As such England is a reference point for other nations in the implementation of the articles in the U.D.H.R document. England's success with this document may lie within the daily activity of its citizens, which for its child and young adult population is schooling and teachers here are key personnel. In the science of teaching other wise known as pedagogy, it is necessary to put into consideration the psychology of the pupil/student. This demands that teachers be calculated in their remarks to pupils/students as inappropriate remarks could amount to an infringement on the right of the pupil/student with its attendant chilling effects. Schools also double as character molding institutions where deep and lasting impressions are made on the minds of its population. Dents made on the reputation of the pupil/student as a result of inappropriate remarks will lead to a feeling of inadequacy which in turn produces an individual who is disempowered and who withdraws from making meaningful contributions to the society within which he/she finds him/her self. The freedom to express opinions and be listened to constitutes an integral part of the universal declaration of human rights and subsequent documents on human rights derived from it .Teachers find themselves in a community of people who may be younger in age but have independent opinions which they must be encouraged to express in healthy interactions. Gender inequality is another issue frowned upon by the U.D.H.R A teachers familiarity with this document better positions him/her to handle issues in line with the provisions contained therein. Both Gender are to be given equal consideration in the scheme of things. The female gender should like its male counterpart be encouraged to make their contributions to issues as they arise as parts of the society in which they live. Favourable consideration of this issue was one of responsible factors for the ascension to power of former British Prime minister Margaret Thatcher. It is obvious today in our society that there is a need to foster a cordial and harmonious relationship among the multi-cultural and multi-racial groups that makes up the England of today, moreso in schools, a traditional meeting point for the different races. Teachers having familiarized themselves with the document would know that discrimination against any pupil/student on the grounds of colour, race or ethnic origin is an offence and would neither practice nor encourage such. Also recognised in the documents are the social, economic rights of individuals. Another fact in Human Right worth mentioning is the issue of the right to practice the religion of ones choice. Post September 11 events have tended towards the indictment of a specific religion as a result of the origin and religion of the main actors and masterminders of the plot. Care should be taken however, not to fall guilty of the inalienability of this freedom of a human being in religious practice. It maybe fallacious to generalise that all practitioners of a specific religion are fanatics based on the actions of a select few. Religion, it must be understood, is a believe system guiding the day-to-day activities of those whose trust are vested in it and to do anything discriminatory against it may be tantamount to stripping a person of his or her foundation in the issues of life. To this end teachers with this understanding the strive to ensure that the multi-religious balance of a school is not tilted by anti-religious movements that usually starts with anti-religious comments In conclusion human rights abuse of whatever kind and shape is not in anyway encouraged by the document. The UDHR document although not legally binding, is a document expressing generally acceptable standards of human relationships and should be treated with utmost importance by the states who have ratified the document .The responsibility lies on the teachers to ensure then that abusive tendencies in themselves pupils or students are curbed. In furtherance of this aim it is therefore imperative that teachers in England be familiar with the universal declaration of human rights documents. References 1 Amnesty international http://www.amnesty.org/ 2 Australian Journal of Human Rights Online Issues 2003 (volume 10 issues1-2) 2002 (volume8) www.austiii.edu.au/au/other/ahric/ajhr/ajhrindex.html 3 Department of Public Information,United Nations (1992) Basic Facts About The United Nations 4. Human Rights http://www.un.org/rights/ 5. Human Rights Internet databank(2006) 6 Human Rights Watch (2006) childrens right http://www.hrw.org/children/ 7. U.N (1998) United Nations universal declaration of human rights http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html Read More