PART B: What Is a Right?

UNIT 1

HUMAN RIGHTS

LEAD-IN

PART A: What Does It Mean to Be Human?

- In small groups or all together, brainstorm what qualities define a human being.

- What do you think is needed in order to protect, enhance, and fully develop these qualities of a human being?

- Discuss:

• What does it mean to be fully human? How is that different from just "being alive" or "surviving"?
• Based on this list, what do people need to live in dignity?
• How do human beings differ? What is the value of human differences?
• Are all human beings essentially equal?
• Can any of our "essential" human qualities be taken from us? For example, only human beings can communicate with complex language; are you human if you lose the power of speech?
• What happens when a person or government attempts to deprive someone of something that is necessary to human dignity?
• What would happen if you had to give up one of these human necessities?

- Comment the quotation from Universal Declaration of Human Rights

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

(Article 1)

PART B: What Is a Right?

- In small groups or all together, brainstorm for the many meanings "right" can have

- What is the meaning of "right" when we speak of a human right?

- Brainstorm a definition for human rights and write these possibilities on the board. Try to evolve a definition that everyone can agree upon and write it on a chart sheet by itself.

- Discuss the meaning of these terms: SURVIVAL/SUBSISTENCE," "HUMAN DIGNITY," and "CONVENIENCES AND LUXURIES.

- Consider the chart made in Part A. Place each item listed as necessary to fully develop human qualities under one of these headings. For example, is education necessary to survival? To human dignity? Is education a convenience or a luxury?

Discuss:

• Should human rights address only what a human being needs to survive? Why or why not?
• Should human rights also protect those things you classified under "conveniences and luxuries"? Why or why not?
• Some people in the world have only what is necessary to survive while others have luxury and convenience. Is this situation just? Is it a human rights violation?
• Can something be done to equalize the enjoyment of human dignity? Should something be done? If so, how? And by whom?

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