Theory vs. Reality Gender and Human Rights

Before we begin… Who is protected by human rights? Why? Can a person lose their human rights? Are human rights realistic to achieve? Are they valuable even if this is not the case? Questions for the students to reflect on together – starting the discussion. Addressing the need for/importance of human rights.

Article 3: right to life ”Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person” If everyone has the right to life, why does a third of the world’s countries, incl. USA and Egypt, still perform death penalties? What could arguments for or against death penalties be? Where do human rights fit into those arguments? Could be altered to fit the specific country – does this country preform death penalties? What is the public debate on corporal punishment in the country?

Article 4: Slavery ”No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.” Reality: In Europe alone, over 30,000 people are registered as victims of human trafficking, most are women, and they are mainly trafficked as slaves in the sex industry. There are more slaves today than ever before in history. This article was written almost 70 years ago – why is slavery still an issue? What can this tell us about human rights?

Article 5: Torture ”No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” Reality: 141 countries are known to have used torture in recent years. Torture is still prohibited in times of war, but why do governments use it? Can you see a legitimate use for torture? How does article 5 fit into this? What about inhuman/degrading treatment in prisons? Do you think a person should ever be able to lose their human rights?

Are there any human rights that you disagree with? What human right do you think is most important? Is it possible to distinguish between them, or are they all equally important? Human rights are violated all over the world. What can be done to make sure that they are respected?

Different Cultures, Same Rules? Is it realistic that people of all cultures are expected to follow the same rules? What if a common/central practice in a given culture violates a human right? How do we protect human rights and different cultures at the same time? What rights can you see contradicts a cultural practice you know? Which do you think should be protected?

Gendered Language At least 26 examples of the use of ”he/him/his” in the declaration. Find some! What could reasons for this be? Does it have any consequences on how we view human rights and men and women? Look to some of these examples – e.g. ”brotherhood” in Article 1 – how else could it be phrased? The declaration is almost 70 years old – should the language be changed? Why/why not?

SDG #5 and Human Rights Article 27 and Target 5.b Technology and culture Article 16 and Target 5.3 Consenting to marriage Article 17 and Target 5.a Property Article 21 and Target 5.5 Political leadership/participation Your findings! Some of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goal of gender equality directly, or indirectly, correlates to the articles of the declaration of human rights. Here are some examples, but you can probably find more examples. Do you agree with the examples presented here? Which other ones can you find?