It is necessary that the fundamentals of basic human rights be taught at the grassroots level. The Chairman of the Committee on the Declaration of Human Rights Mrs Eleanor Roosevelt said that universal rights begin in small places close to home. That is the world of the individual, the neighbourhood in which she lives in, the school she attends. This is an illustrated book of the Articles in the Declaration of Human Rights which has never been done for school students before.
Simply told The book explains the content of human rights in each of the 30 Articles of Declaration. Each Article is explained with a story stating the right under consideration. Each Article also carries a full page picture by children of the Aseema Charitable Trust, an NGO working for the rights of underprivileged children.
The stories and the explanations are straightforward and easy to understand. There are key words to help you remember the Article and a suggestion for group discussion.
For example, Article 6 of the Declaration states “Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law”. The author refers to the 19 and 20 century Europe and the prejudice against Jews and the present day persecution of the Baha’is in Iran. The story accompanying this is titled “A new lease of life”. It tells the story of two children Miriam and Hassan living in a country which does not recognise their religion but only the state religion. They are not happy in this country and finally the family is forced to leave and seek asylum elsewhere. In their new country they have the freedom “to go to school, to play games, giggle over jokes and dream of the future”.
The Right To Be, An illustrated Children’s Book on Human Rights , Zena Sorabjee, Veakils, Feffer and Simons Pvt Ltd., Rs. 350
