amnesty internatiOnal
Rights-respecting: Students on the London
Metropolitan University PGCE course
Human rights CPD
or Amnesty International,
F
citizenship is a hugely important part
We continue SecEd’s support for Amnesty International’s
beginning to attract interest from other colleges and
has already formed the basis of a new pilot running this
of the curriculum – it is predominantly
through this subject that students learn education work by asking Laura Jayatillake, to
year at Winchester University for their primary BA and
PGCe courses.
about their human rights, the laws that there are many opportunities for teachers to adopt
protect them, and the skills needed for
explain the free CPD training the charity is offering
a human rights approach to education and to enable
defending them. young people to learn about human rights.
However, with only 1,200 PGCe-trained citizenship
teachers in the crucial areas of citizenship and
organisations like Amnesty provide free resources
teachers in england and three times that number of for teachers of a range of subjects and ages. there are
maintained secondary schools, different organisations
have been keen to support the development of expertise
international human rights
also free educational events on human rights themes
coming up, most notably Film education’s national
in this area. schools Film Week.
the Department for Children, schools and Families From october 15, schools across the UK have the
(DCsF) supports longer term training for existing the free training days began as a pilot project for training events for citizenship teachers in northern chance to see a range of human rights-related films
teachers, with other organisations providing shorter key stage 3 citizenship teachers in england last year, Ireland. for free as part of the week, and Amnesty will be
courses. and were based on Right Here, Right Now – a key stage In northern Ireland, the training will be based delivering talks at several screenings, exploring the
Amnesty International now provides free one-day 3 resource book produced by the British Institute of on a new key stage 4 resource for local and global human rights issues found in the films. Films include
CPD training for citizenship teachers. the aim of Human rights (BIHr) and the ministry of Justice, in citizenship. the resource includes step-by-step lesson Persepolis, Good, The Boy in Striped Pyjamas and
our training days is to share ideas on how to embed association with Amnesty International and the DCsF. plans on 15 topics covering human rights laws, history Slumdog Millionaire. It is the biggest event of its kind
core citizenship skills, such as critical thinking and more than 300 key stage 3 citizenship teachers from and values – a human rights approach to citizenship in the world. In 2008, 400,000 children saw 250 films
taking action, and to support teachers to develop their across the UK took part and when we commissioned issues in the context of northern Ireland and key at 2,000 screenings in 550 locations throughout the UK
knowledge and understanding of human rights laws, roehampton University to evaluate the impact of methodologies for teaching controversial issues and for free.
concepts and issues. the pilot, the findings were overwhelmingly positive taking action. And finally, last month saw the launch of Amnesty’s
the training also aims to show how human rights with 93 per cent of delegates saying that they would Copies of the resource will be provided for free at youth raise off. the competition challenges Amnesty
can be used to explore other citizenship issues, such as recommend the training. training events in the region later in the autumn term. youth Activism Groups to raise funds for Amnesty with
identity and diversity, poverty and social justice, and As a result, we have expanded our free training In another pilot project, Amnesty International prizes going to the group that raises the most money
democracy and participation. programme across england and we will also be running UK has been working in partnership with UnICeF and for the most creative fundraising idea.
UK to help support London metropolitan University Amnesty has just under 700 youth groups across the
to establish the first “rights-respecting PGCe” in country with the vast majority based in schools. the
What is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child?
england. main focus of their work is campaigning for human
the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UnCrC) is a human rights law drawn
the secondary PGCe Professional studies rights. When planning fundraising events, they are
up by the United nations for all children and young people below the age of 18,
Programme at London metropolitan takes a unique encouraged to include awareness-raising and campaign
everywhere in the world. it aims to set minimum entitlements and freedoms for children
approach to explaining government educational actions as part of the event.
initiatives and teachers’ professional responsibilities, by It is the second year of the competition. Last year
that should be respected by governments.
integrating them all under a human rights framework. merchant taylor school in northwood raised the most
the Convention provides young people with over 40 rights, set out in 54 articles and Core human rights values such as justice, respect and money – £3,076. the best fundraising event prize
two optional protocols. rights include:
dignity are placed at the heart of the course. was shared between Dr Challoner’s High school in
• the right for a child to express his/her views and have them taken into account on all
on their first day of the PGCe course, trainee teachers Chesham and Queen elizabeth’s Grammar school in
matters that affect him/her (article 12).
are introduced to the United Nations Convention on the Penrith.
Rights of the Child, the key international human rights Dr Challoner’s High organised a whole series of
• the right to be free from all forms of violence (article 19).
framework on the rights and welfare of young people activities, including a silent protest, a Christmas fair and
• the right to the highest attainable standard of health (article 24) and an adequate (see box for more details). the rights and principles the sale of roses on Valentine’s Day. Queen elizabeth’s
standard of living (article 27).
of the Convention are then explored throughout the put on a party in their local club and a concert in their
• the right to an education that develops a child's personality, talents and mental and
Professional studies course. school courtyard. SecEd
physical abilities to their fullest potential, and that develops a respect for human
trainee teachers in all subjects (citizenship, english,
maths, modern foreign languages, music, and Pe) are • Laura Jayatillake is Amnesty International’s human
rights and fundamental freedoms (article 29).
also shown how to teach about human rights issues rights education co-ordinator.
• the right to play, rest and leisure (article 31). and/or to take a human rights approach to teaching in
Four core principles underpin children’s rights and are seen as central to respecting the
their subject area.
Further information
dignity of every child. they are:
For example, a science workshop on human rights to register an interest and to be kept informed of
• non-discrimination – all children should have rights, regardless of difference in race,
looks at the rights issues around the disposal of toxic forthcoming training dates in either england or northern
waste, and a languages workshop explores the rights Ireland, or for more on the “rights-respecting PGCe”,
ethnicity, religion, gender, nationality, disability etc.
issues of child soldiers in the Ivory Coast. email citizenship@amnesty.org.uk
• Devotion to the best interests of the child – when making decisions that affect young this DCsF-funded project, run by Amnesty and For updates on all Amnesty resources, and
people, adults should always think about what is best for each individual child.
UnICeF UK, goes some way to meeting article 42 of information on relevant resources and opportunities
• the right to life, survival and development – all children should enjoy an adequate
the Convention, namely that “state parties undertake to from other organisations, subscribe to the charity’s
standard of living and should be free from harm and neglect.
make the principles and provisions of the Convention teacher e-zine TeachRights at www.amnesty.org.uk/
widely known, by appropriate and active means, to teachrights
• respect for the views of the child – children should be able to have a say, especially
adults and children alike”. For more on the national schools Film Week, visit
on issues that affect them, and their views should be taken into account. It encourages teachers to respect children’s rights in www.nsfw.org
the Convention became international law in 1989 and has been ratified by 192 Un
their teaching methodologies and provides opportunities to find out more about Amnesty youth Activism
member states. Only two countries have not ratified: the United states and somalia. it
for pupils to learn about their rights in the classroom. Groups, see www.amnesty.org.uk/youth and if you
has become the most widely accepted human rights treaty in the world.
After a successful pilot last year, London would like to register your Amnesty youth group for
metropolitan University is continuing the scheme this year’s competition, visit www.amnesty.org.uk/
again this year. the “rights-respecting PGCe” is also youthfundraise
SecEd • October 1 2009 19
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