Human Rights Education A Manual for National Human Rights Institutions 7.5. LANGUAGE AND MESSAGING USED IN WRITTEN AND ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Language expresses messages about thoughts, beliefs and culture. It can carry open and hidden messages to the participant about what is valued and privileged. It communicates to the listener what is acceptable and can enhance their sense of inclusion or exclusion. The term ‘human rights’ for example is not easily translated into some languages. It is important therefore to seek the guidance of participants by translating the ethos of the term and what is means if a literal translation does not work. English, French and Spanish, for example, include many words that highlight gender and, it is argued, privileges male terminology over female. In English, for example, “man” is often used as a generic term. The terms “chairman”, “policeman” and “congressman” can imply that these roles are for men, not women. The same can apply to language that indicates racial colour. In English, “whitewash” means to gloss over or cover up something bad, while a “black mark” is given to someone who has done something wrong and will be remembered for it. One of the serious mis-messages that was recorded in history books and taught in New Zealand schools for many decades was that “Captain Cook discovered New Zealand”. This ignored the indigenous peoples who were living in the country before that time. The language and messages of the human rights educator, including in any materials used, must be carefully constructed and reviewed so that no unintended exclusionary or prejudicial messages are given. Human rights language is full of uncommon terms and concepts. The challenge for the educator is to ensure that the language that is used is accessible and appropriate to the context. Some examples of translating articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights into plain language are listed below.129 United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights Plain language translation All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination. (Article 7) The law is the same for everyone; it should be applied in the same way to all. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks. (Article 12) You have the right to ask to be protected if someone tries to harm your good name, enter your house, open your letters or bother you or your family without a good reason. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. (Article 18) You have the right to profess your religion freely, to change it and to practise it, either on your own or with other people. Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay. (Article 24) Each workday should not be too long, since everyone has the right to rest and should be able to take regular paid holidays. 129 70 “United Nations Declaration of Human Rights: Plain Language Version”; United Nations Cyber School Bus; available online at www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/.