Autumn
For much of human history, most societies assigned people into particular positions in a hierarchy, valuing them differently based on this position. For example, the lives of monarchs were considered more inherently valuable than the lives of their subjects, and the lives of slaves were considered of so little value that they were traded as property. Despite this, many of the most influential thinkers in history have argued against such hierarchies, believing that all people are equal in worth. This idea is known as equality. Linked to this is the idea of rights. Rights are guarantees of equal protections and social opportunities. Human rights are described as rights to which all people are entitled regardless of where they live. The idea of human rights was clearly described in a Universal Declaration of Human Rights by an organisation called the United Nations, which was formed soon after World War 2 with the aim of maintaining international peace and security. In contrast to human rights, civil rights are rights that people are entitled to as a member of a given community, usually a country, and they are a crucial aspect of modern democracies.
The cause of human rights and civil rights has been advanced throughout history through the coordinated action of countless people. Nevertheless, particular people are remembered for the iconic role they played in the promotion of human rights and civil rights. We will learn about: Olaudah Equiano, Mahatma Ganhi, Emmeline Pankhurst, Millicant Garrett Fawcett, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Malala Yousafzai.
