|
|
|
Citizenship at key stage 4 (Year 10-11)
Unit 03: Challenging racism and discrimination
Section 3: How does the law protect citizens from discrimination and racism?
|
|
Objectives |
| Children should learn: |
- about the role of the law in protecting citizens from discriminatory behaviour
- how the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998 protect basic rights
- about the role of public bodies such as the Commission for Racial Equality
|
Activities |
|
Outcomes |
|
Children: |
- Ask pupils to use newspaper articles and other sources to find out how the law protects individuals or groups against racism and discrimination. Pupils choose a topical example, eg the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, introduced to place a positive duty on public authorities to promote racial equality; or the Commission for Racial Equality, which monitors race equality and champions test cases. Using a range of sources of information, including newspapers, websites and reports, pupils find out about the Macpherson Inquiry, which came about as a result of the murder of Stephen Lawrence. What happened? Who was involved? What actions have been taken as a result? Pupils share and discuss their findings.
- Alternatively, pupils explore how the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998 protect us from discrimination and harm. Focus on the issues surrounding asylum, linking them with activities in unit 1 'Human rights'.
- Extension activity: visitors could be invited to the school to provide different perspectives on racism, the law and responses to the law, eg a police liaison officer could talk about race and policing issues, a local authority representative could explain local responses to the Race Relations Act, or a local MP could discuss how issues of racism and other forms of discrimination are addressed in parliament.
|
|
- define the term 'discrimination' and know about laws in this country which prohibit it
- know about the role of the Commission for Racial Equality
- use their investigation of the Macpherson Inquiry to discuss recent changes in anti-discrimination law
|
|
Points to note |
- This section could be expanded to cover other forms of discrimination, eg against gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, region.
- Various student texts on the Race Relations Act are available. The Commission for Racial Equality has a useful website, outlining the current law and giving details of regional contacts.
- Much useful information about the Stephen Lawrence case and the subsequent events can be found on the Guardian Unlimited website: www.guardianunlimited.co.uk.
|
|
|
This unit is divided into sections. Each section contains a sequence of
activities with related objectives and outcomes. You can view this unit by
moving through the sections or print/download the whole unit.
|
|
|
|
