Human Rights: Checklists

Search the Internet and see if you can find a human rights abuse that you have never heard of or one that you know nothing about.

Take Action: Learn how you can make a difference at: Human Rights First (HRF) (http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/index.aspx) — Scroll through the site to find a topic that you feel strongly about: Click on the RED “Take Action” button, which will take you to a page with tips on things you can do to make a difference.

Many movie and television stars work to help human rights victims or to prevent human rights abuses — find out what cause(s) your favorite actress or actor supports and why.

Start a campaign against landmines — International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) provides a list of steps that explain how to organize an event, lobby decision makers, publicize your campaign, fundraising, make a campaign web page available in different languages, and more. (The information here can also be used for any type of campaign as well.) To start a campaign, visit: International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) (http://www.icbl.org/index.php/icbl/What-You-Can-Do/Campaigning-Tools).

As many as 50% of cluster-bomb civilian casualties are children — who are intrigued by the small and curious shaped bomblets (which are dispersed by cluster bombs). Available in different languages, you can sign The People’s Treaty to Help Ban Cluster Bombs at International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL)  (http://www.icbl.org/).

Take a course, workshop, or seminar on fundraising and apply what you learn to an event to raise money for a human rights cause.

Does your school or your children’s school address human rights. If so, how? If not, the next time your child has to do a report suggest that it be on someone not as fortunate.

Sign an online petition to Implement Human Rights Education in Schools and Universities for your country at United Human Rights (UHR)  (http://www.humanrights.com/#/countryselection).

Be a Witness: Google Earth and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum have brought together visual evidence of the destruction in Darfur. “Fly” over the region and witness a simulation of the crisis at: U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (http://www.ushmm.org/maps/projects/darfur/). (Requires GoogleEarth software, which is FREE and available for installation at this site.)

Darfur refugees are suffering daily, familiarize yourself with their plight, and educate your friends and families — awareness is the first step in helping. Be a voice for Darfur: Send an online postcard to President Obama from the Save Darfur website at: (http://www.savedarfur.org/content).

Buy a Mini Red Ball (about US$30) or donate; and give children around the world the Right To Play, a program designed to teach children in war-torn countries or areas various skills. To donate or learn more, visit: Right To Play (http://www.righttoplay.com/site/PageServer?pagename=redballmovement).

Help create a world without slavery — get involved and join or create a chapter; or for just US$2 you can become a member and make a difference, visit: Somaly Mam Foundation (http://www.somaly.org/).

Check out a book from the library on an historical event in which human rights were violated.

If you are on Facebook, find and join a group that advocates human rights.

There is probably an example of human rights violations in almost every country in the world; try to find an example of abuses that have occurred in your country.

Actively participate in a Blog on a human rights topic.

As difficult or uncomfortable as it may be, imagine yourself in a situation where your human rights are being violated, by putting yourself in someone else’s shoes it can help you to better understand what others are going through.

Think of an example when you hurt someone (hopefully not physically). Did you feel bad? Did you apologize? What could you have done differently?

Make a list of every human rights abuse that you can think of — unfortunately, it will probably be fairly long.

Find a war veteran and discuss human rights abuses that he or she may have observed.

Have you ever explained the Holocaust to your children or has it been explained to you? It is important that everyone in the world remembers this event so that it never happens again.

Find out how to organize a Holocaust Remembrance Day — visit: U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (http://www.ushmm.org/remembrance/dor/organize/).

Red Hand Day, is held on February 12th every year to bring attention to the plight of children who are forced to serve as soldiers in wars and armed conflicts. For more information on events or to plan an event, visit: Red Hand Day (http://www.redhandday.org/).

Human Rights Day (December 10th) — Participate or organize an event for Human Rights Day. Available in 60 languages: You can find campaign materials including downloadable leaflets, ideas to celebrate, a youth corner, calendar of events, and more, visit: (http://www.un.org/events/humanrights/2008/).