Welcome to Students Incorporated. I'm your host,
Mr. Jason. Join me weekly as my students and
I bring you content that's informative, positive,
fun, and uplifting. This podcast is created and
produced with the help of students from the International
Community School of Bangkok. Imagine setting
a goal not just for a community or a country,
but for the entire world. A goal built on hope,
dignity, and the shared belief in our common
humanity. That's exactly what happened when leaders
from every corner of the globe came together
to make a revolutionary promise for the future.
That promise begins with a powerful idea. Every
one of us is born free and equal in dignity and
rights. That isn't just a nice thought. It's
the core of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, the landmark document adopted by the
United Nations. But what is this declaration?
And what do these rights mean for us today? in
our schools, our communities, and our digital
lives. Today, in honor of Human Rights Day, we're
going back to the foundation to find out. Welcome
to this special episode of the Students Incorporated
podcast. Today, I'm joined by co -host Josiah
and Proud, along with two student guests. But
before we get started, let's hear our quote of
the day and get some headline news. For our quote
of the day, we wanted to share the words of Eleanor
Roosevelt, who was the driving force behind the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She said,
Where, after all, do universal human rights begin?
In small places, close to home, so close and
so small that they cannot be seen on any maps
of the world. Unless these rights have meaning
there, they have little meaning anywhere. This
quote reminds us that these big universal ideas
aren't just for governments or international
courts. Therefore, right here, right now, it
means that the right to be treated with respect,
the right to have your voice heard, and the right
to be safe start in your own schools. on your
own sports teams, and in your own homes. If we
don't stand up for each other's rights in those
small, everyday places, the global idea of human
rights loses its power. It's a call for us all
to be the ones who bring these rights to life.
And that's our quote of the day. Now onto some
headline news. Thank you for a quote of the day.
For our headline news, we're looking at three
recent stories from around the world that highlight
significant progress in the area of human rights.
First, a major development from this past October.
As reported by Reuters, a landmark Gaza peace
and reconstruction deal was signed. After months
of intense negotiations, leaders from Israel
and Gaza signed a peace agreement the world leaders
are calling a pivotal moment for the region.
The deal not only establishes a framework for
lasting security, but also creates a multi -billion
dollar international fund to rebuild critical
infrastructure like hospitals and schools. Most
importantly, it includes provisions for ensuring
ongoing access to... education, and health care,
making a critical step in upholding the human
rights of the region's civilians. Next, a very
encouraging report on global child welfare. According
to the Association Press, the International Labor
Organization reports a historic drop in child
labor. A new report indicates that the global
number of children engaged in child labor has
fallen by nearly 20 million over the past four
years, from 2020 to 2024. marking the steepest
decline on record. The report highlights that
the most significant progress has been made in
parts of South Asia and Sub -Saharan Africa.
It credits coordinated global supply chain legislation
and a major international push for increased
investment in universal education as key factors.
While challenges remain, ILO, the International
Labor Organization, is hopeful this trend will
accelerate. There's still work to be done as
nearly 138 million children are still engaged
in child labor around the world. Our final headline
takes this concept of rights into fascinating
new territory, moving from the rights of people
to the emerging legal concept of the rights of
nature. As reported by the Associated Press,
the headline is Ecuador's Constitutional Court
Expands Rights of Nature to Protect Key Amazonian
Rivers. In a recent ruling, Ecuador's highest
court has significantly expanded the country's
constitutional rights of nature to include two
of its largest rivers. The decision grants the
rivers legal standing, meaning lawsuits can be
filed on their behalf to protect them from pollution.
Environmental and indigenous activists are celebrating
the decision as a major global precedent for
protecting vital ecosystems. And there you go.
Three positive developments for rights across
the globe. And that's our headline news for this
episode. Thank you for the quote in the headline
news. The news stories really show that the conversation
around rights is alive and evolving every single
day, which leads us perfectly into our main discussion.
And for this discussion, I'm joined by co -host
Josiah and Proud and also two student guests,
Simpson and Enwu. Welcome. Thanks for having
us. Yeah, thank you. All right, so for the first
part of our conversation, we want to go back
to the basics. We hear the term human rights
all the time, but what does it actually mean?
Sin Sin, let's start with you. In your own words,
what is a human right? To me, it's like a set
of basic things that everyone in the world deserves,
no matter who they are. Things like the right
to be safe, to have your own thoughts, and to
be treated fairly. It's not something you have
to earn. It's something you're born with. Oh,
I like that. That's great. And that's a great
way to put it. Something you're born with. I've
got a question for you, Inwoo. Why do you think
it was so important for the world to come together
and write these rights down in one formal document?
I think it's about setting a standard for everyone.
If it's not written down, it's just an idea.
But when you create an official document like
a universal declaration by the United Nations,
it became a promise that every country can agree
to. And it gives people something to point to
and say, this is the standard you promised to
uphold. Exactly, a global promise. That promise
is born from a moment of global crisis after
World War II. Now, Josiah, the idea of listing
rights wasn't entirely new. How did foundational
documents from different countries like the U
.S. Bill of Rights influence the creation of
this new universal standard? That's a crucial
part of the story. You have to go back to the
creation of the US Bill of Rights in 1791. After
the American Revolution, people were worried
that the new central government they had just
created might become too powerful and infringe
on their freedoms, just like the British monarchy.
So they needed a way to put up some guardrails.
For our listeners who might not be familiar,
Proud, what were some of those key rights they
listed in the Bill of Rights? Well, there are
10 of them. The first one is probably the most
famous. It protects the freedom of speech, religion,
the press, and the right to assemble peacefully.
The next two deals with the right to bear arms
and prevent the government from forcing people
to house soldier. Wow, so those core ideas like
freedom of speech were written down as fundamental
rule right from the very beginning. Exactly,
and the most of the rest, from the Fourth Amendment
to the Eighth, establish rights in the legal
systems, including protection from unreasonable
searches, the right to a speedy and public trial,
and protection against cruel and unusual punishment.
The Ninth and Tenth Amendments are about ensuring
that people have other rights beyond just the
one listed. The whole point was to create a list
of things the government cannot do. The First
Amendment literally starts with the word, Congress
shall make no law. Yeah, the First Amendment
goes like this. Congress shall make no law respecting
an establishment of religion or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom
of speech or of the press, or the right of people
to peacefully assemble and to petition the government
or a redress of grievances. It's a pretty powerful
declaration and rule. Just like Proud said, the
First Amendment protects speech, religion, and
the press. important freedoms that many countries
still do not recognize. The Bill of Rights is
a fascinating document. It's on permanent display
at the National Archives Museum in Washington,
D .C. It's displayed alongside the original Declaration
of Independence and the U .S. Constitution. My
family and I had the privilege of viewing these
documents several years ago when we took a trip
to D .C. It was a pretty powerful moment looking
down at the foundational documents that helped
create what we now know as the United States
of America. Of course, they are held behind thick
ballistic glass and protected by armed security
guards. That just shows how important the message
is. It's fascinating to think the original documents
are still around after almost 250 years. The
Bill of Rights was a framework of limitations,
so how did that very specific national document
become a blueprint for a global standard 150
years later? Well, when Eleanor Roosevelt and
the UN Commission were tasked with drafting a
global standard, the U .S. Bill of Rights provided
a powerful structural model. It showed that it
was possible to formally list out and protect
fundamental freedoms in writing. It gave them
a blueprint for how to frame a document of rights.
So the UN Commission drafted and approved the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, also known
as the UDHR, in December of 1948. It's also recorded
that 50 member states participated in the final
drafting of the approved document and that eight
nations abstained from the vote. This document
set out for the first time that fundamental human
rights are universally protected and are for
everyone. And it seems like the biggest shift
was taken that idea. A list protecting citizens
from their government and turning into a global
vision of rights that people have simply by being
human. That's the perfect way to put it. They
took the blueprint and massively expanded the
vision beyond just legal protections to include
those crucial social and economic rights needed
for a life of dignity, like the right to education
and health care. That expansion is so critical.
It really speaks to the idea that rights are
about more than just legal protections. This
brings to mind a powerful quote from Nelson Mandela,
who said, To deny people their human right is
to challenge their very humanity. Proud, what
does this quote mean to you? To me, it means
that our rights are not optional extras. They're
at the very core of who we are. When people's
rights are denied, whether it's the right to
be safe, to learn, or to have a home, you're
not just taking something away from them. You're
saying that their life, their dignity, and their
humanity are less valuable. So challenging their
very humanity, it's such a profound way to think
about it. To make sure these rights were fully
respected, the creators of the UD HR described
them with three key words, universal, inalienable,
and indivisible. Sin Sin, what do you think universal
means here? I think it means they are for everyone,
everywhere. It doesn't matter your race, your
religion, what country you live in, or how much
money you have. These rights apply to every single
human. Yes, exactly. And Enwu, what do you think
about the word inalienable? It's a bit of a tricky
word. I had to look this word up, but it means
that they can't be taken away, like no one can
decide you don't deserve right anymore. They
are a permanent part of you just because you
are a human being. Ah, that's exactly right.
They are a core part of who you are. So we talked
about some of the history and principles. We're
going to take a short break, and when we come
back, we'll discuss how these big foundational
ideas apply to our lives today. So we'll be right
back after this short PSA message. Every child
everywhere deserves a pencil, a book, and a safe
place to learn. Sometimes we treat school like
a chore, something we have to do. But for millions
of children around the world, education is not
a burden. It is a desperate dream. It is a fundamental
human right that is currently being denied. Right
now, poverty, war, and discrimination are keeping
countless young people, especially girls, out
of the classrooms. And when you close a school
door, you close off a future. But here is the
truth. Education is the most powerful tool we
have to change the world. When we invest in learning,
we don't just teach math or history. We break
the chain of poverty. We reduce inequality, we
build communities that are healthier, safer,
and more peaceful. An educated mind is the first
line of defense against oppression. So this week,
I challenge you to look at your own education
differently. Don't take it for granted. And take
a moment to learn about the heroes fighting for
this right, like the teams at UNICEF or the Malala
Fund. A small action from you can help create
a tidal wave of change. Educate yourself, advocate
for others, empower the future. And we are back
with our second part of this episode. Now that
we talked about the foundation of human rights,
we want to zoom in on what these ideas look like
in our world today. For this segment, we're continuing
our conversation with our student guests, Ensign
and Inwoo. So let's start with something big.
When you think about global human rights, what
issue stands out to you the most right now? For
me, the biggest issue is access to education.
There are still so many kids around the world
who can't go to school because of poverty, conflict,
or discrimination. I agree, and I'll also add
the right to safety. There are places where people
don't feel safe in their own communities because
of war, crime, or violence. Those are powerful
points. Here's something I've been thinking about.
What do you think makes human rights so difficult
to protect globally, even though the rights themselves
are written and agreed upon? I think it's because
every country has different laws, different governments,
and different beliefs. So even if the rights
are universal, the way they are respected or
enforced changes a lot. That's true. And it brings
up another question. What do you think is one
big misunderstanding people have about global
human rights? Some people think human rights
are only about big political issues. But really,
they also include everyday things like being
able to speak freely, access to water, or not
being discriminated against. Exactly. Human rights
affect every part of life. So here's something
for both of you. If you could choose one human
right that the world should focus on improving
immediately, what would it be? I would choose
the right to equality. So many problems begin
when people are treated unfairly because of their
identity or background. And I would choose the
right to live in a safe environment. Pollution,
unclean water, and unsafe housing, these issues
affect millions. Those are incredibly important.
Now, with so many challenges around the world,
how do you think young people, students like
all of us, can play a role in supporting global
human rights? Even small actions can matter.
Learning about issues, speaking up for others,
joining school projects, those things add up.
Yeah, I think raising awareness is a big one.
If people don't know what's happening, they can't
help fix it. You're absolutely right, Eunwoo.
You can't fight for rights if you don't know
what they are. Awareness is step one. And since
we are celebrating Global Human Rights Day, we
want to make sure everyone listening leaves with
some concrete knowledge about what they are.
Every year on December 10th, it is Global Human
Rights Day, which was just yesterday for us.
It's a day that observed all over the world.
It commemorates the day in 1948 when the United
Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, or the UDHR for short. Think of
this document as the ultimate rulebook. For treating
people with dignity, it outlines 30 basic rights
that belong to everyone. But for time's sake,
we can't read all 30 right now. we wanted to
share our top 10 list of the rights we think
are essential to know. Yes, number one, this
is probably the most foundational right, so we
should start with this one. It is, we are all
born free and equal. We all have our own thoughts
and ideas, and we should all be treated with
the same dignity. Number two, freedom from discrimination.
These rights belong to everyone regardless of
our race, color, sex, language, religion, or
political opinion. Number three, the right to
life. We all have the right to live in freedom
and safety. Number four, no slavery. No one has
the right to make us a slave, and we cannot make
anyone else a slave. Number five, food and shelter
for all. We all have the right to a good life
with enough food, clothing, housing, and health
care. Number six, equality before the law. The
law must be the same for everyone. It must treat
us all fairly. Number seven, the right to privacy.
Nobody has the right to come into our home, open
our letters, or bother our family or us without
a good reason. Number eight, freedom to move.
We all have the right to go where we want in
our own country and to travel abroad as we wish.
Number nine, freedom of thought and religion.
We all have the right to believe in what we want,
to have a religion or to change it if we want.
And number 10, the right to education. Primary
schools should be free. We have a duty to learn
and protect the rights of others. That is a powerful
list, and that's only 10 of the 30 listed. You
can find the complete list with the other resources
at un .org. It really is. Listening to all of
you read those, it's a reminder that these aren't
just words in an old document from 1948. They
are a promise we make to each other every single
day. With these rights comes a heavy responsibility
for all of us. We all have seen what happens
when they are ignored, whether it's on the news,
in our own communities, or even in our own lives.
We know that when human rights are violated,
it causes real pain to individuals and damages
our society as a whole. Absolutely. It puts everything
we talked about today into perspective. So it's
time to end this segment. So I want to just say
a huge thank you to our student guests in Sininenwu
for joining us on this discussion on human rights.
So thanks for joining us today and talking about
this heavier topic. As we head into the holiday
season, we talk a lot about peace on earth. Human
Rights Day is a reminder that peace starts with
how we treat each other. So this month, let's
make respecting human dignity our highest priority
and then try to carry that into next year. If
today's episode sparked a conversation for you,
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off until next time. We are Students Incorporated.
Because your voice matters.