◊ Becoming a Human Rights Friendly School
is a collaboration of  

Dorothy Cotton with Principal Nilsen-Hodges, students of New Roots Charter School are designated a Human Rights Friendly School, 2016

• The Dorothy Cotton Institute (DCI), Human Rights Educators USA (HRE-USA) and  Amnesty International USA

◊ Start the process to become a Human Rights Friendly  School:

A) Download the Becoming A Human Rights Friendly School Manual and read it.

B) Consider whether you are still interested, and how you would like to proceed with assessment.

C) Contact Kirby Edmonds at DCI to discuss how to proceed and what support you would like from DCI.

◊ BASIC STEPS to designation as a Human Rights Friendly School:

New Roots Charter School at 2016 DCI Gala

STEP 1:  

Use the rubric in the manual to do an initial self-assessment for your school. Online assessment is available as well.

STEP 2:  

Determine which areas you’d like to improve and determine your goals for improvement.

STEP 3:  

Develop your school’s action plan:
usually a year-long plan.

STEP 4:  

Implement your school’s plan.

STEP 5:  

Stay in regular communication with DCI Senior Fellows to discuss your school’s progress toward plan implementation.

STEP 6:  

When you’ve reached your goals, your school receives designation by DCI as Human Rights Friendly.

WHAT IS A HUMAN RIGHTS FRIENDLY SCHOOL?

◊ A Human Rights Friendly School places human rights at the heart of the learning experience and
makes human rights an integral part of everyday school life.

• From the way decisions are made in schools, to the way people treat each other, to the curriculum and extra-curricular activities on offered, right down to the very surroundings in which students are taught, the school becomes an exemplary model for human rights education.

◊ A Human Rights Friendly School is founded on principles of equality, dignity, respect,
non-discrimination and participation.

• A school community where human rights are learned, taught, practiced, respected, protected and promoted.

  • Human Rights Friendly Schools are inclusive environments where all are encouraged to take an active part in school life, regardless of status or role, and where cultural diversity is celebrated. 

• Young people and the school community learn about human rights by putting them into practice every day.

  • Through an approach which goes beyond the classroom and into all aspects of school life, commonly called a ‘whole-school approach’, a ‘holistic approach’ or ‘rights-based approach,’  both schools and young people become powerful catalysts for change in their wider communities.

  • Click to download the Toolkit, Student’s Pamphlet, Teacher’s Pamphlet, Families and Communities Pamphlet, Administrator’s Pamphlet and Poster in English, French and Spanish.