1. The South African Constitution provides a framework for understanding and applying the values of human rights in our daily lives and therefore it is important that learners should have a sound understanding of and insight into the Declaration of Human Rights.

2. With this in mind, schools are requested to make a concrete contribution to the protection of children and the promotion of Human Rights Day - 21 March 2003. The special focus on Human Rights Day will assist learners to gain valuable knowledge, skills, values and attitudes needed to play an active part in our democratic society.

3. It is important that learners should understand that rights imply responsibilities and that they should ensure that the rights of others are respected.

4. Attention to human rights issues should be a feature of any ongoing school programme. The learning areas Life Orientation, Arts and Culture, Social Sciences and Language Literacy and Communication are particularly appropriate for learners to explore and develop their understanding of human rights issues. When setting up a programme for Human Rights Day, educators are advised to use an integrated approach based on these learning areas.

5. Schools are encouraged to organise special meetings, talks and assemblies to prepare for the celebration of Human Rights Day. The following topics may be used to guide the planning of activities:

  • What are human rights?

  • Celebrating diversity regarding gender, religion, race, language, etc

  • Ways of classifying human rights

  • Checking the abuse of power

  • Winning and losing - fair play in sport

  • Rights and responsibilities as responsible citizens

  • Social and economic rights
6. Some ideas for activities for integrating Human Rights Day with Curriculum 2005:

  • Make a file containing information about organisations that attempt to help resolve abuses of human rights.

  • Draw up questionnaires on human rights and relevant issues.

  • Plan activities on the Bill of Rights and the Children’s Charter.

  • Conduct interviews with relevant public figures, people who work in the field of human rights or people in the community who are prepared to share their experiences.

  • Create artworks or design a mural for the school in which children’s rights and responsibilities are depicted and life is celebrated.

  • Use role-play - choose a topic that deals with the concept of ‘fair play’ in various situations.

  • Make use of newspapers, visual images and other media in the classroom during the week starting on 17 March 2003.
7.  Educators can refer to the following1:

  1. Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and other human rights

  2. U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child

  3. African Charter on Human and People’s Rights

  4. Manifesto of Values in Education ref.: Circular 0145/2001

  5. The Freedom Charter

  6. Human Rights in the classroom:  Human rights in the classroom
    (Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission)

  7. Human Rights in the classroom:  Resources for Teachers
    (Amnesty International USA Human Rights Education Network)

  8. Human Rights in the classroom:  First Steps: A Manual for Starting HR Education
    (University of Minnesota Human Rights Library)

  9. Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport - information on drugs in sport, fair play resources, Spirit of Sport Campaign

  10. Australian Sports Drug Agency - information on drugs in sport, their history, etc.

  11. Edulis:  021 948 7504

  12. Holocaust Centre:  021 462 5553

  13. Robben Island:  021 409 5250

  14. UWC Robben Island Museum:  021 959 2935

  15. Safe Schools call centre:  0800 45 46 47

SIGNED: P.A. VINJEVOLD
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2003:02:20

1 Note that Section 7 of this circular has been adapted for use via the Internet.