Human Rights Correspondence School

This lesson discusses the important link between effective rule of law and the implementation of human rights in any society. In doing so, the lesson looks at what comprises effective rule of law as well as the current situation in many Asian countries, where there is both a collapse in the rule of law, and a deterioration in human rights protection.

Whether they are economic, social and cultural rights, or civil and political rights, all human rights are indivisible. The right to food, a basic human right, and one that falls in the economic, social and cultural rights grouping, is largely affected by the violation of other rights.

This lesson introduces the right to food, which is a fundamental human right falling under the grouping of economic, social and cultural rights. There are innumerable people around the world who struggle daily to find enough food to survive.

This lesson follows the painful but determined struggle of the Kwangju uprising victims’ family members and Kwangju citizens to reveal the truth about the 1980 uprising, commemorate the victims and fight for democracy. From 1980 to the present day the people of Kwangju have been fighting to achieve their goals.

This lesson examines in detail the May 1980 Kwangju uprising, which was a significant event in the struggle for democracy. The uprising was also a unique and remarkable response by the people of the city to the military brutality they faced and to a situation of anarchy.

The practice of honour killings is a particularly troubling form of violence against women. This lesson examines the practice of honour killings in Pakistan, together with the country’s alternative legal system, as formed by the jirgas and panchayats. These bodies are primary obstacles towards the abolition of honour killings and other human rights violations, as well as the establishment of effective rule of law.

Truth and reconciliation commissions have had a significant effect on justice and democracy in several countries around the world, as well as contributing to a philosophical debate regarding human rights violations and their perpetrators. While there have been a few similar commissions formed in Asia, the concept of truth and reconciliation is little known within the region.

The lesson aims to enable individuals and groups to make use of the UN complaint procedures and to that effect provides examples of cases submitted to certain UN mechanisms.

This lesson discusses the public hearing that took place in Colombo on 9 December 2003. The hearing was an attempt by civil society organizations to address the phenomenon of child torture committed by the Sri Lankan police.

This lesson examines the human rights of prisoners, both in terms of international standards, and the actual prison conditions in Hong Kong, Thailand and Malaysia. The lesson also looks at the available complaint mechanisms, through which prisoners may obtain redress for human rights violations.