DEFINITION

Human Rights generally refers to the establishment and extension of humane and just treatment to individuals and groups within all societies.

WEBSITES: CURRICULUM AND LESSON PLANS

• The Southern Poverty Law Center's Teaching Tolerance program publishes a magazine and maintains lessons for teaching students about human rights and valuing the contributions of all members of society.  The SPLC and its Teaching Tolerance materials can be accessed at:  www.splcenter.org/

WEBSITES: GENERAL RESOURCES ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Note:  Many of the groups and organizations below have international, national, state, and local affiliates that can be accessed through their main web pages.  Most of the groups and organizations listed function through the support of member donations.  In some cases, governmental human rights agencies, such as those of the United Nations, accept support from the general public.  Some of the groups and organizations below also offer opportunities for volunteer work of various kinds.

• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations on December 10, 1948, can be accessed at:  http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html
• Human Rights Watch, an international advocacy organization that fosters the observance of human rights, reports on abuses of human rights, and supports victims of human rights violations, can be accessed at:  http://www.hrw.org/
• Amnesty International, an international advocacy organization that campaigns for human rights, focusing particularly on prisoners of conscience and working for justice for those persecuted because of their human rights stances, can be accessd at:  www.amnesty.org/
• The United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees, the UN agency charged with obtaining and monitoring international assistance to people forced from their countries due to political upheaval, ethnic conflict, natural disasters, and a variety of other situations, can be accessed at:  http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home
• The United Nations Children's Fund, the UN agency responsible for supporting adequate nutrition, education, health care, and advocacy for children worldwide, can be accessed at:  www.unicef.org/
• The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is an agency of the United Nations responsible for organizing worldwide responses to humanitarian catastrophes, providing information to governmental and nongovernmental relief efforts, and raising awareness of human needs and violations of human rights around the world.  It can be accessed at:  ochaonline.un.org/ 
• ReliefWeb, a service of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, is a constantly updated website providing information to all who would like to become active in relieving human suffering and supporting human rights.  It can be accessed at:  www.reliefweb.int/rw/dbc.nsf/doc100
• The American Civil Liberties Union, a nonprofit organization working for the constitutional rights of individuals within the United States, can be accessed at:  www.aclu.org/
• The National Council of La Raza, a nonprofit organization advocating on behalf of the rights of Hispanic Americans, can be accessed at:  www.nclr.org/
• The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a nonprofit organization dedicated to equal rights for African Americans, can be accessed at:  www.naacp.org/home/index.htm
• Human Rights Campaign is a nonprofit organiztion working for the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and can be accessed at:  www.hrc.org/
• The Anti-Defamation League, a nonprofit organization concerned with human and civil rights for Jewish people, can be accessed at:  www.adl.org/
• The Gay-Straight Alliance, a nonprofit organization particularly focused on the rights and acceptance of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students, can be accessed at:  www.gaystraightalliance.org/
• The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, a non-profit organization formed to protect the rights of Arab people, can be accessed at:  www.adc.org/
• Habitat for Humanity is an ecumenical Christian organization founded by former president Jimmy Carter to provide affordable housing to those who would not otherwise be able to afford it.  The organization can be accessed at:  www.habitat.org/
• The International Committee of the Red Cross is a worldwide human rights and relief organization that monitors human rights around the globe and responds to humanitarian emergencies wherever they occur.  It can be accessed at:  www.icrc.org/
• Opportunity International is an organization that gives microloans to people without access to money to start family businesses.   

ARTICLES

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BOOKS (about teaching this topic/genre)

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BOOKS (general information about human rights)

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ONLINE VIDEO, SHORT FILMS & MOVIE CLIPS

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RADIO/PODCASTS

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MOVIES

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