Human rights
The concept of rights is fundamental to definitions of citizenship. It includes rights that are legally defined and those that are established by social convention. Human rights are the rights we all hold in common, as expressed in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Websites with practical activities
No More Landmines
Website providing information on the problems of land mines around the world, including short films and case studies. Other teaching resources are available to order. Useful for discussing rights and responsibilities, social exclusion and safe/unsafe places.
UNICEF Cartoons for Children's Rights
Cartoons, video clips and animations that express the ideas behind each article in the Convention for Children's Rights.
National campaigns
Charter88: the campaign for a modern and fair democracy
Independent organisation promoting UK political reform. Wide range of topics covered including citizenship, devolution, parliamentary reform, voting and civil rights. Great database of political quotations and information about local groups and getting involved. Special area of the site devoted to Scotland. It sponsors the Citizen21 project aimed at teachers, which has lots of good information although this is targeted at the English curriculum.
Organisations
Amnesty International UK
Leading human rights organisation. The website has a youth and student section with campaign information and ways that young people can make their views heard on human rights injustices. Teachers can access resources tailored specifically to the Scottish curriculum at the Amnesty International Scotland: Education pages.
Child Rights Information Network
Global network that disseminates information about the Convention on the Rights of the Child and child rights amongst non-governmental organisations (NGOs), United Nations agencies, inter-governmental organisations (IGOs), educational institutions, and other child rights experts.
Department of Justice
Responsible in government for implementing the Human Rights Act, which incorporates rights and freedoms guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. Publications and information about UK legislation and international human rights.
Human Rights Watch
USA-based, independent organisation dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world. Lots of articles, reports and information grouped by country and also by key global issue.
Scottish Human Rights Trust
Charity promoting and supporting human rights in Scotland. It offers independent information and training on human rights and citizenship.
The United Nations
International assembly of countries committed to preserving peace through international cooperation and collective security.
It must be emphasised that inclusion of these web links does not in any way represent endorsement by Learning and Teaching Scotland, nor are we responsible for the content of external websites.