Family Justice Project

Module One Facilitators Manual

Module One

Human Rights and Social Workers In Egypt

Sessions 1-2

Family Justice Project

Module One Facilitators Manual

Session 1

Introduction to human rights

Objectives Identifying the cognitive references of human rights and their development. Identifying the sources of human rights in laws and international agreements. Tools Data show + computer. Flip chart. Color markers. Printout number 1: Guidebook of the international documents about human rights. Printout number 2: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Introduction to human rights: 15 minutes Begin with the following introduction: Human rights issues are widespread in all contemporary societies, either considered positively or negatively. Human rights have become the most prominent issue and the advancement of societies is measured according to their respect of these rights and the commitment to human rights criteria and standards. In our country, human rights are related to freedom, democracy, development, social justice, political reform, good governance, fight against corruption, coping with modernity, and improving the situation of individuals, families and the society as a whole. Ask participants about the latest issues of concern for them or for the public opinion regarding human rights.
2

Family Justice Project

Module One Facilitators Manual

Guide the discussion towards issues such as: The freedom of speech and expression. Equality in rights and duties. Eradication of poverty. Write their answers on the flip chart and discuss with them one of these issues, or more pending on the available time. Inform participants about the importance of being acquainted with human rights and their historical development as well as their impact on daily matters, especially for social workers. Give rapid and concise examples related to the social reality indicating that human rights are deep rooted, stable, universal and indivisible. Confirm the importance for social workers to be aware of local and international human rights standards. In performing their roles, social workers confirm the natural rights of human beings.

The universality and comprehensiveness of human rights: 10 minutes Present the following pictures that include people from various races, color, sex or age whose rights were apparently violated. Ask participants the following questions: In your opinion, what are these people exposed to? Does anyone of you know one of these persons? Does anyone know what these persons did in order to be harmed?

Family Justice Project

Module One Facilitators Manual

Write the answers on the flip chart and formulate your comments by stressing the following: These people have rights regardless of their identity, religion, sex or color; these rights are due to human beings whatever the nature of their crimes. Indicate that your second and third questions were illegitimate because the essence is to have right regardless who they are or which crimes they committed. Insist that these principles should be deeply rooted in the mind of social workers.

Family Justice Project

Module One Facilitators Manual

Cognitive references of human rights: 30 minutes Ask participant about the reason of moving the Olympic torch from country to country and from hand to hand before the beginning of any Olympic games? Ask them also about the connotation of keeping it blazing during its transfer among countries. Write their answers and show the relationship with human rights concluding that the culture and criteria of human rights developed historically among cultures and nations; therefore, all peoples, nations, civilizations and religions contributed in the formulation of human rights concepts and standards, similarly to what happens with the Olympic torch. Explain that the protection of human rights has developed through four phases 1. The phase of ancient civilizations and religions. 2. The phase of national legal acts. 3. The phase of the United Nations Charter. 4. The phase of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Divide participants into three working groups and ask them to attempt identifying the historical evolution of human rights in old civilizations and religions. Ask each group to present their work. Discuss the findings and indicate the convergences. Present the two following slides:

Family Justice Project

Module One Facilitators Manual

Source of knowledge about human right In Christianity The old civilizations of the world that were born on the shores of the Nile, in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, the Hellenic, Roman and Persian civilizations as well as the Chinese and Hindu civilizations have promoted several types of rights and duties, legal acts and tribunals. The tolerant commandments of Christianity have highlighted the right to life (you will not kill), and the protection of others rights and ownerships (you will not steal) as well as forbidding adultery and perjury, and calling for the protection of the weaker, the strange, the widowed and the orphan. It also referred to the right of workers. These commandments focus on children rights translated in the words of Jesus about them. In addition, Christianity forbid female genital mutilation and abolished the custom of circumcision where Christian males are only circumcised when there are medical reasons. Sources of knowledge about human rights In the Arab Islamic civilization In the Arab civilization, before the apparition of the Prophet, people of Mecca had instituted the alliance of curiosity. With Islam, there was of focus on the issues of freedom, human dignity, equality between humans, justice and tolerance; the Holy Quran as well as other Islamic sources are full of commandments related to the protection of human rights. The Holy Quran confirmed the right to life. It also confirmed the right to equality. Moreover, It refers to the freedom of belief. Finally, Islam commands the protection of the security of the body. Indicate to participants that the entire humanity has participated through its varied and widespread experiences in formulating, adding to, and confirming these rights until we see them under their contemporary aspect; no civilization can pretend that it played the main role in producing human rights.
6

Family Justice Project

Module One Facilitators Manual

Indicate also that similarly to the alliance of curiosity, there were other benchmarks in the long way of the humanitys constant attempts to emphasize the values and ideals of human rights. Among these benchmarks in the contemporary era we note: The Bill of Rights in 1689: After the British revolution led by Cromwell in 1640 to take the power after the execution of the king, this bill put the king under the jurisdiction of the laws enacted by the parliament elected by people. The American Declaration of 1776: This Declaration was issued after the war of independence, confirming that governments are established with the consent of peoples, that all men are created equal and they are granted by God a set of inalienable right, and whenever governments fail to protect these rights, the people have a right to change it. However, the Declaration did not abolish slavery; it also omitted to secure women equal rights until things changed by the mid twentieth century. The Declaration of the Rights of the Man and the Citizen that was adopted in 1789 one year after the French revolution under the slogan of freedom, brotherhood and equality. The nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century witnessed important violations of human rights resulting from the colonialism and the conflicts between big colonial entities leading to world war I (1914-1918). Through the League of Nations, the global community attempted to prevent wars and organize international relations, however it failed and collapsed with world war II. The only successful body during this period was the International Labor Office as a result of its unique structure that groups the three stakeholders in the process of work: representatives of governments, representative of employers and representatives of trade unions. Since 1919, the ILO remains the main source of international standards in the field of work and workers rights. The organization adopted hundreds of specialized agreements known as the international labor law. World war II and the birth of the United Nations: World War II (1935-1945) represented the worse human disaster where over fifty millions of persons were killed in addition to the destruction by Europe of some parts of Asia and Africa. Therefore, the United Nations was established to avoid new similar disasters and achieve international security and peace. The Charter of the United Nations (1945) indicates human rights and non discrimination on the base of sex, language or religion both in its preamble and in some of its articles
7

Family Justice Project

Module One Facilitators Manual

Listen to all the comments and answer the questions of participants. Human rights agreements: 30 minutes Inform participants that human rights refers to the set of international biding principles and standards that were adopted by the humanity. Indicate that human rights are the result of an international cultural consensus between civilizations consecrated by political consensus. Confirm that Arab and Islamic countries have contributed since the beginning in the formulation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as other conventions about human rights. Declare that in the contemporary era, human rights are not mere ideals praised and recommended by religions; they are rather legal commitments exposing those who violate them to penalties at the international, regional and national levels. Divide participants into three working groups: the first group will work on the international agreements they are aware of, the second group is invited to identify the rights protected by international agreements, and the third group will identify the categories protected by the international agreements of human rights. Ask the groups to present their work. After the discussion of each group present the slide corresponding to each homework. International agreements The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, December 10 1948. The Universal Covenant of Socio-Economic and Cultural Rights, 1966. The Universal Covenant of Political and Civil Rights, 1966. The first Optional Protocol of the Covenant about individual complaints. The second Optional Protocol of the Covenant about the abolition of death sentences. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Family Justice Project

Module One Facilitators Manual

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights includes a comprehensive coverage of all rights and freedoms. It includes a set of civil, political and juridical rights, such as the right to life, integrity of the body, freedom of thought and speech, with a focus on equality and non discrimination, the freedom of association and of equitable prosecution. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights omitted the right of self determination as most countries were at that time under the domination of the colonial forces that were exerting their authority over the United Nations. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is not compulsory from the legal point of view; however, it has moral value, and a political and ethical legitimacy as being the first international agreement on human rights in the history of the humanity. The two covenants represent the legal commitment to the content of the Declaration. Categories addressed by the international agreements These agreements were concluded to protect the more needy categories such as women, children, disabled, minorities, foreigners and refugees. Some agreements are aimed at reinforcing one of the rights such as the eradication of racial discrimination, the abolition of slavery or the prevention of torture. Ask the participants to notice the similarity between these categories and their clients in the counseling offices. Move to the task of the third group Rights protected by the agreements about human rights The number of agreements related to the various aspects of human rights exceed one hundred; among these we mention: The Convention against Racial Discrimination, 1965. The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, 1979. The Convention against all Forms of Torture, Cruel and Inhuman Treatment, 1984.
9

Family Justice Project

Module One Facilitators Manual

The Child Rights Convention, 1989. The Convention on the Protection of Migrant Workers and their Families, 1990. The Convention on the Rights of the Disabled. The Convention on the Protection of Refugees. Conclude this activity by distributing printout number 1: Guidebook of human rights international standards. Make sure participants understand the printout. Human rights agreements in the life of social workers: 30 minutes Divide participants into four working groups and ask them to read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (printout number 2) and identify the articles that could be of help in the following fields: The school. The institutions of punishment. Non-governmental organizations concerned with women issues. Shelters for aged persons. Ask from each group to work on one of the fields mentioned above (15 minutes). Ask groups to present their work. Discuss their presentations and confirm the right answers. Alternative activity Distribute copies of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, indicate some of the articles supporting the activities of social workers in the four fields indicated above and written on a flip chart divided into four cells. Ask participants to review these articles individually and identify other articles that might be of help. Write the correct answers. Answer the questions and give the necessary explanations. Focus on the fact that social workers should be aware of all peoples needs in the various situations of their life regarding national and international
10

Family Justice Project

Module One Facilitators Manual

laws and conventions confirming the right of human beings to a dignified life, and that this knowledge will represent a solid base for their work. Conclusion: 5 minutes Wrap up the activities of the session and recall the objectives that were achieved. Ask participants if they have any comments or questions. Close the session by informing them about the topic of the next session.

11

Family Justice Project

Module One Facilitators Manual

Printout number 1: Guidebook of the international standards for the protection of human rights Agreements protecting a comprehensive set of human rights The International Covenant of Political and Civil Rights (1966). The International Covenant of Socio-Economic and Cultural Rights (1966). Agreements protecting specific categories The Convention on Child Rights (1989) and its two Optional Protocols. The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1979) and its Optional Protocol. The Convention about the Status of Refugees (1950). The Protocol about the Status of Refugees (1966). The Conventions of the International Labor Office (182 agreements). The Special Declaration of the Disabled Rights. The International Convention for the Protection of Refugee Workers and their Families (1990). The Convention about the Disabled Rights (2006). Agreements addressing specific violations The Convention against Torture (1984) The Optional Protocol of the Convention against Torture about visits to the places of detention (2002). The Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (1965). The International Convention against Apartheid in Sports (1985). The Convention against Discrimination in the Field of Education (1960). The International Convention to Eradicate and Criminalize Racial Discrimination (1976). The International Convention for the Protection Against Compulsory Disappearance (2006). Agreements providing protection in specific cases (armed conflicts) The four Geneva Conventions (1949) and he two Optional Protocols (1977).
12

Family Justice Project

Module One Facilitators Manual

The Hague Convention about the Protection of Intellectual Ownership in the Cases of armed Conflicts (1954). The Hague Conventions about the Rights and Duties of Neutral Countries and Individuals in Wars (1970). The Declaration about Women and Children in Emergency Cases and Armed Conflicts (1974). Agreements for the protection of international penal justice The By-Laws of the International Criminal Court (1998). The Convention for the Prevention and Criminalization of Genocide (1948). The Convention of the Non-Prescription of War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity (1968). The Principles of International Cooperation in Tracking, Arresting, Delivering and Punishing the Convinced of Criminal Wars and Crimes Against the Humanity (173). Regional mechanisms of human rights The Convention for the Protection of Humans and Freedoms, Rome 1950 (The European system). The American Convention of Human Rights, issued in San Jose in 1969 (The American system). The African Charter of Human Rights and Peoples, issued in Nairobi in 1981 (The African system). The Arab Charter of Human Rights, issued in Cairo in 2004 (The Arab system). The ILO Conventions: 186.

13

Family Justice Project

Module One Facilitators Manual

Printout number 2: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Adopted and publicly published by virtue of the UN General Assembly resolution 217A (d-3) dated December 10 1948 Preamble Whereas 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. Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people. Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law. Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations. Whereas the people of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom. Whereas member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge. Now, therefore the General Assembly proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every member of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and
14

Family Justice Project

Module One Facilitators Manual

education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction. Article 1 All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. Article 2 Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without discrimination of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, nonself governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty. Article 3 Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. Article 4 No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms. Article 5 No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Article 6 Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
15

Family Justice Project

Module One Facilitators Manual

Article 7 All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination. Article 8 Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law. Article 9 No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest detention or exile. Article 10 Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him. Article 11 Everyone charge with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guaranties necessary for his defense. No one shall be held guilty for any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed. Article 12 No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, not to attacks upon his honor and reputation.

16

Family Justice Project

Module One Facilitators Manual

Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks. Article 13 Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country. Article 14 Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution. This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations. Article 15 Everyone has the right to a nationality. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality. Article 16 Men and women of full age, without any limitations due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage, and at its dissolution. Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses. The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State. Article 17 Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.
17

Family Justice Project

Module One Facilitators Manual

Article 18 Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. Article 20 Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. No one may be compelled to belong to an association. Article 21 Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures. Article 22 Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization through national efforts and international cooperation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality. Article 23 Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
18

Family Justice Project

Module One Facilitators Manual

Everyone without any discrimination has the right to equal pay for equal work. Everyone who works has the right to just and favorable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family and existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests. Article 24 Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay. Article 25 Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children whether born in or out of the wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection. Article 26 Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of aptitude. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

19

Family Justice Project

Module One Facilitators Manual

Parents have a prior right to chose the kind of education that shall be given to their children. Article 27 Everyone has the right to freely participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits. Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author. Article 28 Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized. Article 29 Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible. In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society. These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations. Article 30 Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any rights and freedoms set forth herein.

20