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Objectives
- Students will define the concept of human rights and human rights violations.
- Students will examine and evaluate the state of human rights in China and the United States.
Materials
CNNfyi article, "Albright presses U.N. to confront China"
paper and pen
Internet access
poster board and poster board materials (such as markers, magazines that can be cut).
Suggested time
One to two 45-minute classroom periods. (Activities can be assigned to be completed as homework.)
Procedures
1. Direct students to read the human rights violations story.
2. By way of review, discuss the following questions:
- Who is Madeline Albright? Why did she recently address the United Nations Human Rights
Commission? For whatdoes she fault China? What was the response from the Chinese
delegation? What other countries did Ms. Albright cite for human rights violations?
- What does it mean, to "censure" a country? What power would the UN have in its response to
Ms. Albright's call for censure? How might this affect China? Why do you think that the United
Nations has been reluctant to reprimand China in the past?
- What are the duties of the U.S. Secretary of State? What was unusual about Ms. Albright's
address to the UN? On which occasion was the last address to the UN by a U.S. Secretary
of State?
Assessment (use one or both of the activities)
1. Using recommended websites and other resources, ask students to write a paragraph that explains their understanding of human rights. Then share definitions in class and list on the board all the traits that students agree are important in defining human rights. Based on the list and discussion, have students agree on a classroom definition of human rights. This definition may include a list of specific rights, as does the Bill of Rights. Direct students to make posters that illustrate the class definition, and place them on the classroom walls. Place a poster of the rights on the wall and instruct students to adhere to these rights at all times in your classroom (and outside the classroom).
2. In his response to Ms. Albright's claims, Chinese Ambassador Qiao Zonghuai said, "A country like the United States, which has such a poor human rights record, has no right to judge other countries' human rights situation[s]." Challenge students to address his comments. Hold a class discussion about events that occurred in the U.S. in the past year. Ask students to consider which ones may demonstrate a lack of concern for human rights. Then have them research websites and other resources to find more information about human rights in the United States and in China. Based on their findings, direct students to write essays that either support or refute Ambassador Zonghuai's assertion.
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