Discover the impact of United Nations Human Rights Day and how the values documented in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) can align with the child protection and safeguarding work carried out in your school setting every day.

Human Rights Day falls every year in December. It commemorates the day in 1948 when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) – which is actually the most translated document in the world.

Following World War Two, achieving this political and social feat was remarkable, as many countries were still grappling with practical challenges – for example, rationing in England continued until 1954.

It’s easy to think, yes it was a big deal but that it doesn’t impact everyone in the same way nowadays.  Whilst for many of us, our rights and freedoms are protected, there are those internationally and on home soil, who are less supported, whose voices aren’t as clearly heard and who need that extra care.

Human rights are for everyone – which is a fundamental reason why safeguarding children must be at the heart of all our work. Children are inherently more vulnerable and more susceptible to a range of harm as they do not hold the same power as the adults around them in many ways.

Applying the Universal Declaration of Human Rights into the Curriculum

Whether or not you celebrate Human Rights Day with the children you work with – and organisations such as Amnesty International have dedicated educational resources for all age groups if you are looking for where to start and many schools have engaged with UNICEF’s fantastic Rights Respecting Schools Award – it is still really useful to consider how our collective national and international values as enshrined in the UDHR are mirrored in the Child Protection and Safeguarding work you carry out.

In terms of where this can occur in the curriculum, it can be as part of an RSHE-type lesson, but it can also be across the curriculum.  Here are just a few examples of articles and how they could be covered in lessons with children, and perhaps used to remind staff never to miss a teachable safeguarding moment in any lesson.  This is a sample, though there are other relevant Articles you could choose.

• Article 1 – All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights
  • One way we could use this in working with young people is in a discussion about modern-day slavery, this could be in an RSHE or Citizenship lesson.
• Article 5 – No one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
  • This can be used to discuss physical abuse or types of domestic abuse – perhaps in an English lesson looking at a text or in a Drama session reflecting on themes in a play.
• Article 16 (2) – Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses
  • This might be the focus of a GCSE Law lesson or an RSHE lesson, or equally when studying an English text or discussing mental capacity in a Health and Social Care session about the elderly.
• Article 18 – Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion…
  • This could provide the starting point for any discussions in assemblies, RE or RSHE lessons about bullying and the Fundamental British Values of tolerance of difference and the extent to which that applies.
• Article 25 (1) – Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care …
  • This essentially condemns intentional neglect and so might be raised in discussions in history or geography lessons, for example, when comparing state aid in the past or around the world and recognising the support mechanisms in place in this country to prevent intentional neglect.

Final Thoughts on Human Rights and Safeguarding in Schools

So, perhaps this December is a good time to take stock in your setting of when you last reflected with staff on the breadth of safeguarding explicitly mentioned across your curriculum and using the UDHR could be a useful tool to start up discussions once more.

If you need any further support linking the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Safeguarding, we’re here to help. At Services For Education, we help equip schools and colleges with the necessary resources and learning programmes to ensure the highest quality safeguarding provision and student wellbeing support.

Visit our website to find out more or email us at contact us at hello@servicesforeducation.co.uk.

About the Author

Jo Perrin is a seasoned Education Adviser with a strong background in safeguarding. She has held key roles as a Designated Safeguarding Lead and pastoral lead in the education sector. Facilitating training to enhance the knowledge and skills of professionals working directly with children and young people is her passion.

With a wealth of experience in teaching PSHE and expertise in childhood trauma from her time as a foster carer, Jo is dedicated to supporting organisations that work with children and vulnerable adults on safeguarding issues. She is actively involved in professional safeguarding groups in the West Midlands and is currently collaborating on a research project with colleagues from the University of Birmingham and the NHS focusing on FGM awareness within communities. Jo’s has worked as a West Midlands' Adviser for national PSHE resources, presented at the Sex Education Forum National Members' Event and authored an advertorial for PSM magazine and an article for SEND magazine.

Jo's expertise extends to training on topics such as Safer Recruitment and Mental Health at Work. She is also a facilitator for the nationally recognised NPQSL qualification, supporting senior leaders in education. Her contributions to publications and development of resources for RSE provision have been well-received by schools nationally and internationally.

With her extensive experience and dedication to professional development, Jo Perrin is a highly respected figure in the field of education. Her guidance on safeguarding, mental health awareness, personal development, and relationships education is highly valued within the industry.

NEED SAFEGUARDING SUPPORT AT YOUR SCHOOL?

Our expert advisers can provide in-school visits to deliver sessions on any specific safeguarding issues that are relevant to your setting. We also offer consultancy and a detailed safeguarding audit. We will work with you to understand your exact requirements.

Get in touch with us today if you’d like to discuss bespoke Safeguarding training for your school.

find out more

For further support and information, SFE can offer bespoke consultancy packages of support for DSLs to look at processes and procedures. In addition, our team of experts can complete an audit of the current safeguarding status of your school.   

Browse our website for further information www.servicesforeducation.co.uk or email safeguarding@servicesforeducation.co.uk