Rights Respecting Schools
UNICEF UK is pioneering an initiative called the Rights Respecting
School Award (RRSA) which encourages schools to place the UN Convention
on the Rights of the Child (CRC) at the heart of its ethos and
curriculum. A Rights Respecting School (RRS) not only teaches about
children’s and human rights: it also models rights and respect in all
its relationships, whether teacher to pupil, pupil to teacher or pupil
to pupil.
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The initiative started in 2004 and is running in over 200 schools in the
UK (primary and secondary). It is already demonstrating an improvement
in child well-being. Many schools have reported a decrease in bullying,
an improvement in achievement and participation; a positive effect on
attitudes and global awareness; and a more inclusive, caring school
atmosphere.
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Adults and young people alike have consistently reported that the
language of rights and responsibilities, based on the CRC, empowers them
to relate to each other better and to engage in decision-making more
collaboratively. The effects of the Rights Respecting School initiative
can be seen not just through school councils but also through the
inclusive, participative way the whole school works – during lessons,
meal times, play, class and through parents’ involvement.
The Award is open for all schools: nursery, primary, middle, secondary
and special. Schools that meet the Rights Respecting School criteria
will receive our Rights Respecting School Award certificate and digital
logo.
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Teacherzone
Teacherzone is where you will find UNICEF UK education
resources and information. It is aimed at teachers who
want to find out more about children's rights through a
global perspective. It offers primary and secondary
teachers information on rights and responsibilities
using the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
as a framework for teaching. Our children's rights
section suggests ways you can use the CRC in the
classroom as part of the curriculum and offers advice on
how you can assess its impact on school life.
Teacherzone also informs you of how you can obtain
support for your school through regional UNICEF UK
Education Officers, the Rights Respecting Schools Award
and by purchasing or downloading teaching resources,
many of which are free.
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Education resources
UNICEFclassroom resources have been developed within the framework of
rights and responsibilities to support many curriculum areas and all age
ranges, including resources for introducing HIV/AIDS issues in the
classroom. You can use the search facility to browse by subject, theme
or age range to find a wide range of publications and resources. These
include teaching packs,lesson plans and activities, assemblies,
information sheets, photos and teacher support material to download free
of charge or purchase in the on-line shop.
e-newsletter
The Teacherzone
e-newsletter
keeps you up-to-date with UNICEF UK
Education news and resources twice a term. In the latest edition (May
2008), you can find out how UNICEF is contributing to providing aid to
Myanmar (Burma) after the cyclone, find out about health and the
Millennium Development Goals and download some new and instantly useable
classroom resources.
Assemblies and curriculum
Assemblies
for primary and secondary schools are available for free
download. These assemblies are linked with UNICEF special days
throughout the year and can be searched by subject, theme and age range.
You can also buy a resource for secondary schools – ‘Under the UN Flag -
Assemblies for Citizenship in secondary schools’
This 104 page book contains double page spreads with 45 different
assemblies. They are related to United Nations Days throughout the year
and are indexed in date order. |
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Research tells us that teachers think assemblies are a key place to talk
about Citizenship. The assembly readings in the book give the work of
the UN a human face, provide factual information, and illustrate how the
UN is such an important organisation for the poorest people on the
planet, and one which everyone should know about and support. The
readings are truly global and draw upon the thousands of true stories of
children around the world with, and for whom, UNICEF has worked since
1946. |
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Ideas for follow up are provided. There are suggestions for making your
assemblies more participatory, and also how pupils can be directly
involved. The most relevant Articles of the UN Convention on the Rights
of the Child are given for
reference. |
About UNICEF
UNICEF UK is one of 36 UNICEF National Committees based in
industrialised countries. UNICEF National Committees raise funds for
UNICEF’s worldwide emergency and development work. In 2006 UNICEF UK
raised £43.3 million for UNICEF’s work with children worldwide.
We also advocate for lasting change for children. For example, our
public affairs team works to change government policies and practices
that are detrimental to children’s rights in the UK and internationally.
UNICEF is the leading children’s organisation, reaching children in more
than 150 less-developed countries around the world. We work with local
communities, organisations and governments to make a lasting difference
to children’s lives.
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Our global reach allows us to share knowledge across borders while our
local presence – almost 85 per cent of UNICEF staff work in developing
countries – means we can deliver assistance where it is needed most.
With our worldwide presence, UNICEF is ready to respond rapidly wherever
disaster strikes, delivering life-saving help for children. |
UNICEF believes that every child should have clean water, food, health
care, education, and a safe environment in which to grow up. UNICEF
upholds the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and works to hold
the international community responsible for their promises to children.
Our funding
UNICEF is not funded by the UN. Instead, we rely on voluntary donations
to fund our work for children worldwide. UNICEF UK raises funds for
these programmes through donations, the sale of cards and gifts,
partnerships with companies and special events.
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