Amnesty International report targets U.S., China

May 30, 2001
Web posted at: 4:45 PM EDT (2045 GMT)

Curriculum connections: Social studies - human rights

After students read the CNNfyi.com article "Amnesty report: U.S., Chinese human rights records worsening," ask the following questions:

1. Why does Amnesty International claim the United States' human rights record has worsened? What problems are cited with China's human rights policies? What has AI chosen as a new worldwide effort? Why do you think this particular abuse has been targeted?

2. AI also opposes the death penalty. Which countries does it report as having the most executions? How would you compare and contrast characteristics of these five countries?

3. How do you think multinational corporations and financial institutions have affected the strength of governmental influence? In what ways can both governments and businesses promote human rights?

4. Why do you think those from "the poorest or most marginalized sectors of society" are most victimized by human rights abuses? What could be done to increase protection for these people?

5. When you think of the term "human rights," do you think of large-scale abuses, such as those mentioned in the Amnesty International report, or do you also think of events that happen on a daily basis right in your own environment? Inform students that the first phrase in the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the following: "recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world." Ask students to consider what it means to grant all other human beings "dignity." Hold a discussion in which they give examples of times when students or other members of their school community are not treated with dignity. They are likely to come up with occasions when other students are ridiculed, ignored and mistreated for any number of reasons. Challenge them to begin a quiet "human rights" movement in their own school beginning with themselves. Ask them to write in their journals every day for a week about incidents when they have stopped themselves or interrupted others from treating another person with disrespect. Hold a conversation one week later to see how the experience went for the students.

6. Depending on the results of the above activity, brainstorm ways in which students can encourage their peers to do the same. Students may even want to start an extracurricular school group to promote equal respect and rights for all students, faculty and administrators.

7. For more activities and information about Amnesty International and its 40th year, go to the CNNfyi.com story and lesson at http://fyi.cnn.com/2001/fyi/lesson.plans/05/28/amnesty.da/index.html.

8. For an additional lesson and story about the death penalty, go to CNNfyi.com's "Death penalty on trial" and Highwired.com's "The death penalty: a question of life or death."

Human rights champion marks 40 years
May 28, 2001
Death penalty by electrocution on trial
March 7, 2001

Amnesty International Report 2001 - Home
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Peace Site Home Page

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