This document provides a brief history of human rights declarations and organizations from ancient times to the modern era. It discusses some of the earliest declarations of rights including those established by Cyrus the Great of Persia in 539 BC and provisions of the 1215 Magna Carta. It then outlines several seminal human rights documents and organizations in the 18th through 20th centuries such as the US Declaration of Independence, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Amnesty International. The document concludes with a proposed classroom activity asking students to address a human rights problem and develop a solution.

1. Project CoSSOL - “Concepts for a Successful
Self-Organized Learning”
Comenius Multilateral School Partnership
Workshop “Civic Competences”
December 2011, Moers, Germany

2. The story of Human Rights
In 539 B.C., Cyrus the Great, having conquered the city of
Babylon:
o set all slaves free to return home
o declared people free to choose their own religion.
o A clay tablet containing these liberties is considered the
first human rights declaration in history.

3. The story of Human Rights
1215: The Magna Carta:
o established new rights
o made the king subject to the law.
1628: The Petition of Right - set out people’s rights independent of the
British Crown-for example no –cause detention, non-Parliamentary taxation
etc.
1776: The United States Declaration of Independence – proclaimed
alongside the independence of the USA, but also the right to life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness.
1789: The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen - in France,
established freedom and equality of citizens before the law.

4. The story of Human Rights
1864: The First Geneva Convention - set standards of international law in
protection of human rights
1948: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights - the first charter identifying
the thirty rights to which every human being is entitled.
1953 : The European Convention of Human Rights was adopted by the Council
of Europe and signed by 47 states. The Council was established in the
aftermath of World War II to strengthen and promote democracy and the rule
of law.

5. The story of Human Rights
Voices for Human Rights
Martin Luther King , Jr., when championing the rights of people of color in the US in
1960s, declared “ Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”
The great advocate of peaceful resistance to oppression, Mahatma Gandhi, described
nonviolence as “ The greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier that the
mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man”
Thomas Jefferson, author of the American Declaration of Independence declared that
“The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction is the first and only
legitimate object of good government”
Fighting against religious persecution in 18th century France, Voltaire wrote,
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”
Each of these individuals spoke and lived as a powerful and effective advocate of
human rights. Each, in a significant way , changed the world.

6. The story of Human Rights
Human Rights ORGANIZATIONS
• AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL – worldwide movement with more than 2.2 million
members in more that 150 countries. They conduct research and generate
actions to prevent abuses of human rights and demand justice for those whose
rights have been violated. amnesty.org
• HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH - They investigate and expose human rights violations ,
challenge governments and policy makers to end abusive practices and respect
international human rights law. hrw.org
• HUMAN RIGHTS WITHOUT FRONTIERS (HRWF) – focuses on monitoring, research
and analysis , as well as promotion of democracy and the rule of law on national
and international level. hrwf.net
• THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE)
consisting of 56 participating states from Europe, Central Asia and North America,
is focused on freedom of movement and religion, preventing torture and human
trafficking. osce.org

7. The story of Human Rights
Human Rights ORGANIZATIONS
• THE CHILDREN’S DEFENCE FUND (CDF) – policies and programs that lift children
out of poverty, protect them from abuse and neglect , and ensure their right to
equal care and education. childrensdefence.org
• UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION
(UNESCO) . unesco.org
• SIMON WIESENTAL CENTER – generates changes by confronting anti-Semitism,
hate and terrorism, promoting human rights and dignity , teaching the lessons
of the Holocaust for future generations. wiesenthal.com
• UN REFUGEE AGENCY - lead and coordinate international actions to protect
refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. unhcr.org

8. Task: “You Are the Problem Solver”
(activity – 30 min.)
Directions:
• Choose a human rights situation from the true-life examples and
workout a solution.
• Assign someone in your group to be the leader and someone to be
the secretary.
• The group leader will supervise the discussion session and make
sure everyone can share his ideas.
• The secretary will write down all of the ideas.
• Decide which idea your group will develop into a workable solution.
Decide who will present it .

9. Task: “You Are the Problem Solver”
(performance – 20 min.)
Present your solutions.

10. .