Understanding Human Rights

Elisabeth Reichert, LCSW, Ph.D. received her degree in social work from the University of Tennessee in 1985 with the aid of a Fulbright Scholarship. She also holds an equivalent degree in Germany. After receiving her social work degree, she practiced clinical social work until 1994, when she began teaching social work policy and practice. she is professor at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and has previously published a book on Social Work and Human Rights: A Foundation for Policy and Practice.

Introduction Why Human Rights and Social Work? Human Rights and Law Purpose of This Book Outline of Book Teaching Human Rights and Social Work Ch. 1: What Are Human Rights? Definition of Human Rights Three Sets of Human Rights Human Rights Terms Enforcement of Human Rights Exercises Ch. 2: Beginnings of Human Rights Evolution of the Human Rights Framework The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Social Workers and Development of Human Rights Exercises Ch. 3: Building the Foundation: Universal Declaration of Human Rights Opening Statement Summary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Exercises Taking the Human Rights Temperature of Your Community Ch. 4: Beyond the Universal Declaration of Human Rights International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Conclusion Exercises Ch. 5: Human Rights and Vulnerable Groups What is a Vulnerable Group? Women as a Vulnerable Group Children as a Vulnerable Group Victims of Racism as a Vulnerable Group Persons With Disabilities as a Vulnerable Group Persons With HIV-AIDS as a Vulnerable Group Older Persons as a Vulnerable Group Gays and Lesbians as a Vulnerable Group Conclusion Exercises Ch. 6: Cultural Relativism Guidelines for Analyzing Cultural Relativism Cultural Relativism - This Era's Facism? Exercises Ch. 7: Human Rights and Ethics NASW Code of Ethics IFSW and Ethics Human Rights and Ethics Exercises Ch. 8: Social Work Practice and Human Rights Preliminary Foundation for Applying Human Rights Exercises Ch. 9: The International Side of Human Rights and Social Work International Human Rights Issues Exercises Conclusion Appendixes References

"In Understanding Human Rights: An Exercise Book, Elisabeth Reichert has written a basic introduction to human rights specifically for social workers and faculty who teach in this field. The book is clearly written and has a very practical orientation towards the subject of human rights that will engage many readers." -- Debrah L. DeLaet