Secondary: Current Assemblies

HUMAN RIGHTS

By Kate Andréo

Suitable for Key Stage 4/Key Stage 5


Aim

To raise awareness about the importance of education, and in particular human rights education.

Preparation and materials

• This assembly includes a case study from the NGO Women Helping Women in Pakistan.
• The primary source for material in this assembly is http://www.feedtheminds.org and more information can be found on their website.
• Using the material below, prepare a drama lasting a few minutes about educating workers in the brick kilns of Pakistan about their human rights.
• Background information on Pakistan: population 160 million; 24 per cent live below poverty line; life expectancy 65 years. More information is available from sources such as the internet.

Assembly

1. The modern state of Pakistan was born in 1947 out of the partition of the Indian subcontinent when it gained independence from the British. Since then it has faced both domestic political upheavals and regional confrontations.
   
2. Politically, Pakistan has alternated between periods of civilian and military rule. General Pervez Musharraf seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999 which was widely condemned and led to Pakistan’s suspension from the Commonwealth that year. He was, however, able to regain foreign acceptance in some corners through backing the US-led campaign against terror. As a result, substantial amounts of US aid flow to Pakistan; any conditions that are imposed focus more on action against terrorism than on good governance.
   
3. Pakistan is a nuclear power and has the seventh largest army in the world. As a result military expenditures are a major drain on the national budget. It is not surprising then that education statistics in Pakistan are extremely poor compared with countries of similar per capita income. Health indicators also support the view that inadequate attention is given to poverty in the allocation of national resources. 
   
4. Pakistan has, however, undertaken major reforms in governance since 1999, contributing to substantial improvements. Yet it continues to face serious challenges in its ability to provide citizens with fair, equitable and effective access to their rights. There is a need for support for increasing the engagement of citizens in the political process, and particularly for the participation of women in public life.
   
5. While the government has made a start in introducing effective legislation for basic rights, there are thought to be nearly two million labourers in Pakistan who are bonded to an employer, particularly working in brick kilns, which means that they have very few rights. What legislation there is to protect such workers fails to have much, if any, impact; and the disenfranchisement of the poor means that they consequently fail to claim the rights that legislation guarantees them.
   
6. Present the drama at this point.
   
   The brick kiln labourers are among the most vulnerable in society, women workers even more so because they suffer from sexual harassment in the work place, receive lower wages than men, and work in poor conditions.
   
   Women Helping Women is a local, multi-faith NGO working to educate women workers in the brick kiln industry on their rights, as well as about governance and democracy. Women Helping Women has organized women brick kiln workers in two districts and over the past two years has worked with them to encourage a peaceful but assertive struggle for the rights of these workers. Successes have been achieved such as a 35 per cent pay rise for the women, and the registration of more than 40 per cent of the brick kiln factories (this enables regulation and enforcement of laws). 
   
7. Through this process it has become apparent that further success requires the women to have a deeper understanding of their rights and of the wider context in which they are operating. As a result, Women Helping Women has established 12 ‘Democracy Schools’ that aim to give the women access to this information, and to encourage them to play a role in improving their situation through peaceful means.
   
   Women Helping Women also puts on theatre performances focusing on the issues of brick kiln workers, promoting awareness and encouraging mobilization around these issues. The lives of over 600 women have been affected, with awareness of rights increasing, and working conditions improving.

Time for reflection

Why do you think human rights are important? Can you think of some that impact on your daily life? Think about the freedom of speech, the right to an education, etc.

Why is it so important for vulnerable and marginalized groups to be educated on their human rights? What do you think this knowledge gives them, and how do you think it can impact on their daily lives?

Why is it important for employers to respect the rights of their employees? Can you think of other examples of where employers have violated their employees’ rights, either in other countries or in the UK? Think about the use of child labour (e.g. Nike factories, etc.).

Prayer

We think of all the people in this world who are working to uphold human rights.

We think especially of Women Helping Women in Pakistan.

Give guidance and direction in their work,

Amen.

Song

‘When I needed a neighbour’ (Come and Praise, 65)