In this unit, pupils study the historical development of the concept of human rights, and some of the human tragedies that led to its genesis. They learn about the non-enforceable Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and contrast this with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which can be enforced in court. They find out about how human rights laws and principles protect fundamental rights and freedoms, and the relevance of human rights issues to our everyday lives. They research contemporary examples of infringements of human rights, and examine the ways in which individuals and groups have campaigned to bring about change. Pupils learn about the Human Rights Act 1998, which incorporated the ECHR into UK law, and consider how to apply the principles that underpin the Act in a number of different situations.
As human rights issues permeate people's lives, it is often possible to deal with them in the context of other topics in citizenship or PSHE.
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