Human Rights and Social Justicie Academy

Open your mind

Duration: 7 days

Recommended language level: A1 and above

BACKGROUND

Human rights guarantee every human being, without distinction, dignity, freedom, equality, justice and peace regardless of their race, colour, sex, language, religion, political views, national or social origin, property or other status. According to the United Nations, Human Rights:

“Ensure that a human being will be able to fully develop and use human qualities such as intelligence, talent and conscience, and satisfy his or her spiritual and other needs.”

Although a majority of people would naturally agree with these principles, when we examine our own attitudes more closely we may discover how we may unwittingly perpetuate social inequalities through cultural beliefs and social norms. It is time to open the debate and ask, honestly, how we promote Human Rights within our lives.

AIMS AND ACTIVITIES

The aim of this programme is to strengthen young people´s understanding of Human Rights, how they affect our lives and what happens when they are not respected. This camp will help young people examine their attitudes towards Human Rights and analyse how culture shapes our perception of our own rights and those of others.

Over the course of the Academy on Human Rights we will reflect on:

-The definitions of Human Rights and Social Justice in the context of the UN Declaration of Human Rights.
-The reality of Human Rights worldwide.
-How we place people in categories and act accordingly.
-How Human Rights and a lack of them affects our lives and those of others.
-How our attitudes, beliefs and norms are generated.
-How these affect our attitude towards Human Rights.
-How gender is culturally created and works as a system of norms and hierarchy,
despite the Human Rights declaration.
-How a proper understanding of Human Rights helps people to act more equally towards
each other.

The camp will also include activities of a recreational and cultural character, for example sightseeing trips to surrounding cities, hiking, visits to Adventure Parks, swimming and canoeing.

In addition, each morning there will be a language workshop, focusing on vocabulary linked to the theme of the day, with the aim of facilitating communication and participation.

OUTCOMES

Young people will develop a more thorough knowledge of Human Rights and social mores of society. They will understand the importance of Human Rights and gain an insight into how their own beliefs and norms affect their respect of Human Rights.

Young people will gain new and/or improved knowledge and skills:

Knowledge

-Definition and history of the Declaration of Human Rights.
-An understanding of Social Justice as a concept.
-An appreciation of how our beliefs and norms affect our attitude towards Social Justice and how this can sometimes support structural inequalities.

Skills

-Communication skills. -Teamwork.
-Improved confidence when presenting ideas to an audience.
-Innovative thinking. -Better communication skills in English/Spanish.