HMD 2012 Post 16 Activities
Learning questions for Key stage 4 or post 16 which are suitable for lessons or tutor time.
1. using the case study of Pierre Seel, ask pupils to reflect on how victims of Nazi Persecution continued to be persecuted after 1945. How would this affect how people reported incidents against them? How would this affect the support that those people receive?
2. read the 2012 case study for Rwanda and if time allows show the film of Marie Rose talking about the world reacting or doing something.
Who do you think could have been able to respond and do something about what was happening? Does the International Community have a duty to react and intervene when innocent people are being attacked? What should that response be?
3. a number of the case studies make references to trials. What can you find out about these? The trials allow those accused of genocide an opportunity to defend themselves, even those who were in charge of the armies or the country at the time. Do you think they should be allowed to defend themselves? One of the core elements of the legal system is that a person is innocent until proven guilty – do you think that concept can or should apply if someone is on trial for genocide?
4. using the Brian Steidle case study, discuss the role of the international observers. Should they have reported more on what they were witnessing? What actions could they have taken? What risks might there be to speaking out in a country that is committing genocide (eg would they be risking their own lives, would the international mission be expelled)?
5. read the 2012 case study on Bosnia. Should politicians from other countries meet with leaders that are suspected of war crimes or genocide? What role should the International Community play in stopping genocide? (For more information on the international convention on genocide http://www.hrweb.org/legal/genocide.html)
6. use the story of Chum Mey. The Cambodian genocide attacked groups within Cambodia that were not ethnically different – discuss what lessons can be learnt from this
7. why might some survivors from genocides not want to talk about what happened to them? Can survivors forgive and forget? Discuss whether you think trials make things easier for survivors
8. discuss why some countries may not be interested in listening to those who are suffering from prejudice or persecution in a different country? Why might the International Community choose to do nothing?
- Learning questions for post 16 (PDF: 208086 KB)