Created by the U of MN Human Rights Center in partnership with the MN Department of Human Rights A Minnesota Human Rights Education Experience

“Education is a Human Right”  Human Rights Teacher Training and new resource development  Human Rights and Peace Store  Upper-Midwest Human Rights Fellowship Program University of Minnesota Human Rights Center

“Educate to Eliminate”  Community Forums “The Right Focus on…”  Public Service Announcements “Don’t Go There”  K-12 Human Rights Learning Resource Tool Kit “This is My Home” Minnesota Department of Human Rights

What Are Human Rights??

Human rights are the rights a person has simply because he or she is a human being. Human rights are held by all persons equally, universally, and forever. Human Rights include civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights.

These rights are established in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the U.S. Bill of Rights, the Minnesota Human Rights Act, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and other human rights documents.

What Is Human Rights Education?

Human Rights Education is a life-long process by which people at all levels of development and in all strata of society learn respect for the dignity of others and the means and methods of ensuring that respect in all societies.

The World Programme for Human Rights Education (A/59/525/Rev. 1) Human rights education can be defined as education, training and information aiming at building a universal culture of human rights through the sharing of knowledge, imparting of skills and moulding of attitudes directed to:

The strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; The full development of the human personality and the sense of its dignity; The promotion of understanding, tolerance, gender equality and friendship among all nations, indigenous peoples and racial, national, ethnic, religious and linguistic groups; The enabling of all persons to participate effectively in a free and democratic society governed by the rule of law; The building and maintenance of peace; The promotion of people-centered sustainable development and social justice.

The World Programme for Human Rights Education Launched January 1, 2005 – December 31, 2007 Resolution 2004/71 of the Commission on Human Rights supported the first phase ( ) of the World Program for HRE to focus on primary and secondary school systems. UN General Assembly adopted resolution in support of The World Programme for HRE (12/10/05) Revised draft plan of action for the first phase ( ) of the World Programme for HRE

What is This is My Home?

This is My Home is a human rights education resource for primary and secondary students, which seeks to create peaceful, effective, and fun learning environments for all to thrive in Minnesota schools. This is My Home includes model lessons for grades K-12, a unique student-centered education process, and a wide scope of additional resources for educators.

Primary Objectives To engage all members of the school community in creating a learning environment in which everyone can grow to their full potential with their human rights and human dignity upheld;

To motivate all members of the school community to take responsibility in promoting and protecting human rights, so that student achievement, development, and performance can thrive To develop new tools for sharing and monitoring effective human rights education practices.

The This is My Home Toolkit Classroom Starter Packet: Human Rights for All This is My Home Interactive CD: Welcome to Human Rights Education This is My Home DVD: Minnesota Students share their stories

Who can Participate?

This is My Home was created to address the needs of Minnesota’s K-12 students, educators, families, and community members. In Fall 2005, all Minnesota primary and secondary schools will receive the This is My Home Tool Kit, which will also be available online. Every school is encouraged to incorporate these resources into their lesson plans and school policies and procedures.

How is it Different? The Human Rights Education Framework Human Rights skills and practices incorporated with MN Academic Standards Human Rights principles, language, and values Applies standards within: The UDHR, Bill of Rights, MN HR Act The student- centered Process Model

1. The Human Rights Education Framework A developmental sequence for learning human rights language, principles, skills, and practices.

Human Rights Principles Equality Human Dignity Inalienability Indivisibility Interdependency Non-Discrimination Responsibility Universality

2. The Human Rights Process Model A student–centered learning circle with 7 steps: (1) Observe and Identify the Issue or Problem (2) Describe and Compare (3) Generate Responses, Formulate Positions, and Make Predictions (4) Select a Response and Take Action (5) Observe and Collect Information (6) Reflect and Draw Conclusions (7) Communicate Learning with Others in the Community

3. Educational Standards and Human Rights Minnesota Academic Standards The Minnesota Human Rights Act The United States Bill of Rights The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Convention of the Rights of the Child.

How will we measure the impact? In recent studies, Minnesota has been shown: To have one of the widest achievement gaps in the nation between white students and students of color. To rank particularly high in teasing, bullying, and aggressive behaviors.

Indicators to Measure This is My Home strives to create a positive change in: Community Partnerships Family Involvement School Climate Student Learning and Development

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” -Gandhi

Bringing HRE into your community is easy! IT’S EFFECTIVE!! IT’S FREE!! IT’S FUN!!

The Great Question – Eleanor Roosevelt, 1958 Where, after all, do universal rights begin? In small places, close to home – so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the worlds of the individual person; the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm, or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerned citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.

Contact Information The University of Minnesota Human Rights Resource Center Mission: To foster learning that develops the knowledge, skills and values needed to build a universal culture of human rights.

Contact Information Kristi Rudelius-Palmer Co-Director Kimberly Walsh Education and Outreach Coordinator