COMPETITION Write for Rights


Do your pupils have a human rights story to tell – either


from personal experience – bullying or what it is like to be a refugee – or an interpretation of a human rights news story? If so, then the Amnesty International Young Human Rights Reporter of the Year competition could be for them.Niall Couper explains


Fight for their rights: BBC journalist Alan Johnston was held captive in Gaza for 16 weeks (main image); the case of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, who faces death by stoning after being accused of adultery in Iran, has shocked many (bottom right); Aung San Suu Kyi (top right, centre) has been under house arrest in Burma for 20 years after her National League for Democracy stood against the government


played by journalists in holding public figures to account. The efforts by The Times and The Guardian in


recent weeks to expose the horrendous stoning case of Sakineh mohammadi Ashtiani in Iran is just the latest in a long line of laudable investigative human rights journalism. The dedication, determination and sheer resilience


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that these brave people undertake to deliver the truth and expose atrocities is truly commendable. In some countries, these journalists do so at great


risk to themselves. It is sadly not uncommon for them to face intimidation, harassment and threats in the pursuit of sharing truths. And the task of delivering news to the intended audience can be extremely challenging and fraught with obstacles. each year at Amnesty International UK we host our


annualmedia Awards and the pinnacle of the ceremony is the Special Award for Journalism Under Threat. In the past it has gone to individuals like eynulla


Fətullayev, an outspoken Azerbaijani journalist, who continued to expose failings in the government despite constant threats, beatings and libel suits. He was eventually arrested and sentenced to two and a half years in prison for libel. This year, Amnesty broke protocol and took the


unprecedented step of bestowing the special media award, not on an individual journalist, but on the collective independent media of a country. A country that has, arguably, one of the most tightly


controlled media in the world. A country where all output is subject to relentless censorship, and where the state-controlled print and broadcast outlets feed the population with formulaic reports of governmental success, while repressing international condemnation of its rules and the appalling abuses of human rights against the citizens. The country is Burma. The American statesman daniel moynihan once


said: “If the newspapers of a country are filled with good news, the jails of that country will be filled with good people.” Almost 2,200 political prisoners are currently


imprisoned in Burma’s jails, among them 40 journalists, subjected to horrific conditions and with no guarantee of ever being freed. The disparity between the state- sanctioned news content which the people of Burma are fed, which even suppresses reports of national sporting failure, and the actual circumstances facing the population, is vast. Burma’s independent media workers operate in


SecEd • August 26 2010


reedom oF the press is one of the absolute fundamental pillars of a peaceful and fair society. It is essential that the likes of


Amnesty International continue to champion the vital importance of freedom of expression and the role


incredibly risky conditions and manage to broadcast content both back into their own country and to the eyes and ears of other countries across the world. Their efforts and the efforts of other journalists


across the globe in exposing human rights abuses in the face of constant harassment and threats show just how important the work of these brave individuals continues to be. The stories they uncover are essential in ensuring a


fair and free society and provide the best defence for promoting human rights journalism. They can also prove a great inspiration to budding


young journalists and encourage people to take up a pen and get writing. over the next 10 months, Amnesty International


and SecEd are looking to unearth the human rights journalists of tomorrow. Amnesty International with SecEd will be launching the Young Human rights reporter of the Year


The competition


The Amnesty International and SecEd Young Human rights reporter of the Year competition is open to students across the UK and has two age categories at secondary level – in Scotland these are S3 to S4 and also S5 to S6. Amnesty is also operating a parallel competition


for younger children in association with LearnNewsdesk. The top three entrants in both categories will


be invited to attend a special awards ceremony at Amnesty headquarters on Thursday, may 19, 2011. each entrant must bring a teacher and is also allowed to invite four classmates and one parent or guardian. Top entries (winners and runners up) will also


be published in SecEd in the weeks after the final ceremony, as well as being showcased at the Amnesty International UK 2011media Awards. The competition officially opens on Tuesday,


January 4, and Amnesty International will be preparing lesson plans to help beforehand. Pupils can write about any number of topics,


including as examples: • You have been bullied, this is how you felt/dealt with it.


• Your school has a brilliant anti-bullying policy. • You have moved to this country as a refugee, or someone you know has.


• Your personal opinion on a human rights issue, such as world poverty, child labour, political prisoners etc.


• Your interpretation of a human rights news story.


competition across the UK. There are two categories – in Scotland there is one for S3 and S4 pupils, and one for S5 and S6 pupils. In each category pupils are asked to write their own report of up to 500 words (see below for full details). The competition officially opens in January.


However, Amnesty will be producing some brief teaching materials to help teachers introduce the competition to pupils in lessons. The lesson materials will be available later this year (see below). Pupils can write about their own experiences or their


take on an existing human rights issue. The competition fits neatly in to several areas of the


Scottish curriculum. In addition to helping fulfil the curricular entitlement that students become responsible citizens, the competition will enable students to meet the experiences and outcomes of the Curriculum for excellence. In literacy andenglish, students of all stages can use


• Your opinion on the laws about the right to smack children.


• A profile of a human rights campaigner (either famous or an unsung hero in your local area/school).


• An event on a human rights theme that you held at school.


• Anything to do with human rights or those rights being broken.


A successful article will contain a balance of factual


information and the feelings and opinions of the writer. Articles can be up to 500 words long.


Judging


The shortlist will be compiled by a panel of judges from theSecEd editorial team. Final judging will be completed by a panel of Amnesty International representatives, teachers and SecEd editor Pete Henshaw.


Prizes


There will be three prizes in each category. First place: Amnesty and SecEd goodie bags


(including exclusive Amnesty International media awards 2011 T-shirt), two Amnesty International 2011 media awards (one for individual, one for their school), winning article published in SecEd, a trip to Amnesty International UK for the awards ceremony, and a week’s work experience with SecEd. Second and third place: Amnesty and SecEd goodie


bags (including exclusive Amnesty International media awards T-shirt), Amnesty International media awards 2011 certificate and a trip to Amnesty International UK for the awards ceremony. Shortlisted entries will also receive a small gift.


the competition to develop their writing to communicate within and beyond their place of learning, creating text for specific purposes. The competition also allows students across the


age range to fulfil the outcomes of the social studies curriculum, as it provides a chance for students to develop understanding of values and beliefs, and the chance to explore the principles of democracy and citizenship through critical and independent thinking. It also gives pupils an opportunity to evaluate the role of the media in a democracy, assessing its importance in informing and influencing citizens. Amnesty International is also running a parallel


competition in conjunction with LearnNewsdesk for younger pupils.


SecEd


• Niall Couper is a press officer for Amnesty International UK and one of the judges for the Young Human Rights Reporter of the Year competition.


How do I enter my article?


Write your article using a Word/text document and email it to Pete Henshaw, the editor of SecEd, pete.h@markallengroup.com. enter Amnesty award in the headline area. In


your email, include your name, date of birth, school, town/area, and your full home address and contact details.


When does the competition open? Tuesday, January 4, 2011.


When do I need to enter?


All entries must be submitted, bymonday, February 14, 2011.


How will I know if I have won? After the judging panel have decided on the prize- winning articles, each winner will be notified on or before Friday,may 6, 2011.


Further information/registering


If you have any questions regarding this competition or require any further information, email SecEd at pete.h@markallengroup.com For a full set of terms and conditions, to register


your interest in the competition now, and to ensure that you get the full lesson plans sent to you when they are available, email niall.couper@amnesty. org.uk For more details on Amnesty’s human rights


education resources and the competition go to www.amnesty.org.uk/education


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