Write for Rights

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vmbo t
• Leerjaar 3

Write for Rights

First lesson

Welcome to your first English lesson of this year!

WHO ARE YOU?

Let's get to work: Unit 2 (Creativity)

• write your letter and/or postcard (WRITE FOR RIGHTS)
• Lesson 3: do ex. 27 and 28 (listening)
• Lesson 3: do ex. 31 and 32 (watching)

Finished? Study vocabulary 2.2 and 2.3

On the 4th of December you are going to write letters for people whose human rights have been violated. In the coming weeks we are going to prepare the letters together.

Why does writing help?

* charges can be dropped, people can be released

* people (and others like them) are treated more humanely because of the attention 

* new laws or regulations are introduced

* people feel supported and appreciated

Succes story

Floriane Irangabiye was released from prison after almost two years of wrongful incarceration.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights 

1. over wie gaat het verhaal

2. wat is het belangrijkste probleem?

3. welke mensenrechten worden geschonden?

4. wie is er verantwoordelijk voor de schending van de mensenrechten?

Examples of shrinking civic space

* it's no longer legal to protest the government

* websites on which people express their opinion are shut down

* people who speak up are arrested

Human Rights Defenders

Human Rights Defenders are people who take non-violent actions to defend and promote human rights. They cannot use or support hatred, discrimation or violence.

Activity

In groups of 3, answer these questions about the story assigned to you:

1. who is the story about? 

2. what are the main issues?

3. how does this story relate to freedom of expression, human rights defenders and/or shrinking civil space?

4. which human rights are being violated?

5. who do you think is responsable for these human rights violations?

And now?

Choose one of the stories.

You are going to write a letter to the authorities to ask for justice for the person you chose. We will prepare a draft of the letter in class but you will write the letter on the 4th of December.

You are also going to write a card to the person and/or their family to support them.