Human rights

Student worksheets

Warmer Quotations
Your teacher will show you some quotations:

Which of the quotations do you think is the most memorable? Why?

How would you define human rights?

Task 1 Video 1: Where do human rights come from?

http://www.parliament.uk/education/teaching-resources-lesson-plans/human-rightsdebating-activity/human-rights-origin/
Watch a video of a member of the UK Parliament, Simon Hughes, describing where human
rights in the UK come from and how Parliament works to uphold them. Which of the things
in the box does he mention?
common law

Magna Carta

habeus corpus

international treaties

international convention on human rights

case law
European

convention on human rights

Task 2 Vocabulary
Match phrases 1-5 with definitions a-e:
1.

Common law

2.

Habeus corpus

3.

Magna Carta

4.

European Convention on Human Rights

5.

International treaty

a. A formally concluded and ratified agreement between states.

b. A 1215 charter allowing certain liberties and ensuring that the kings will was not
arbitrary.

c. The part of English law that is derived from custom and precedent.
d. An international agreement to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in
Europe.
e. 1679 Act to strengthen an ancient writ that safeguarded individual liberty, preventing
unlawful or arbitrary imprisonment (a feature of English Common Law since before
Magna Carta).
The United Kingdoms international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. A registered charity: 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733 (Scotland).

Human rights

Student worksheets

Task 3 Dictation
Watch the video again and complete each gap with one word:
Well, human rights in the UK come from various places. They come from the common (1)
______________, from tradition. Theres something called habeus corpus, the right to insist
that youre not held for no good (2) ______________ - that you can be released from being
imprisoned, unless the law justifies you being imprisoned.
They come from Parliament (3) ______________ laws which guarantee them, either
because we have our own human rights or because we (4) ______________ something like
the European Convention on Human Rights into British law, which we do. Or they come
from international (5) ______________ between us and other sovereign states or that are
(6) ______________ internationally. Together they form the human rights that we have in
this country and that other people have in other countries.
At the end of the day, Parliament can do a lot to change what rights are given to individuals,
but there are certain rights which the courts in a free country will (7) ______________ as
being rights that go beyond anything written down in law. And in a way theyre the most (8)
______________ rights of all.
http://www.parliament.uk/education/newsletter/central-lobby-current-newsletter/simonhughes-where-from/

The United Kingdoms international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. A registered charity: 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733 (Scotland).

Human rights

Student worksheets

Task 4 Concepts
a)

Do these concepts have a positive or negative meaning?

b)

freedom

intolerance

respect

discrimination

security

equality

humiliation

abuse

justice

protection

exploitation

dignity

humanity

injustice

imprisonment

What is the word stress on each of the above words?

O o
freedom

o O

O o o

o O o

o O o o

o o O o

o o

Task 5 Topics covered in the film

http://www.parliament.uk/education/newsletter/central-lobby-current-newsletter/simonhughes-rights-important/
Watch the video of Simon Hughes MP talking about human rights.
Which of the concepts in task 4 does he mention?
Task 6 Opinions expressed in the film
Which of these statements are true or false, according to Simon Hughes MP?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Everyone is born with equal rights.

The states role is to ensure that people have equal rights.
Many states exploit and abuse their people.
The law and international treaties are the only way to protect people.
Human rights enable people to live life to the full.

Task 7 Discussion
In groups, discuss whether you think the statements in task 6 are true or false.
The United Kingdoms international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. A registered charity: 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733 (Scotland).