This activity raises awareness of the fact that the rights of different individuals can conflict and
that rights can conflict in the life of an individual; and encourages young people to understand the impact
of rights conflicts and ways to resolve them.

 

 


1. Explain to the group that there are times when one person's rights will clash with those of another person. For example, a child who believes she is exercising the right to freedom of expression when making racist comments about another child is setting up a conflict situation with that second child, who has the right to protection against discrimination. There are also times when people will interpret the same right in different ways, causing a conflict.

2. Have students form groups of four. Give each group a copy of one of the Rights in Conflict Cartoons. Have them take a few minutes to study the situation depicted by the cartoon, considering:

  • What rights are in conflict in this cartoon? Students could refer to Rights Cards.
  • What are some of the ways in which this conflict might be resolved?
  • Which types of solutions do you think are preferable?
  • Which types of solutions do you think would be most likely to actually occur?
  • Are there any solutions in which both parties could get their needs met?

3. Groups then work together to complete the cartoon in a way that shows the best possible solution, which is also realistic and achievable.

4. Completed cartoons can be posted around the room, then made into a book.

5. Students view and then discuss as a class each scenario, and which solutions allowed BOTH characters to uphold their rights.

 


1. Some groups may want to draw more than one outcome for the same situation.

2. Students can create cartoons about rights which come into conflict in their own lives/communities.

 


1. Students collect examples of rights conflicts in their community, and in other countries. Newspapers, television, radio, and interviews with community members may provide sources. Students share the examples with the class, and discuss how the conflicts were resolved.

2. Encourage students to understand that all rights have equal standing in the Convention and that often, rather than conflicting, the enjoyment of a right can depend on other rights also being respected.