Human Rights for Health Workers – IFHHRO Training Manual

The online Human Rights for Health Workers – IFHHRO Training Manual shares materials developed to train health workers in health and human rights issues. It intends to bridge the gap between the legal conceptualization of the right to health and the daily practice of health workers by providing human rights education materials specifically designed for them.

The manual is available in English (below), Russian, French and Spanish.

Basic knowledge on human rights

Human rights education is generally not integrated in medical and nursing school curricula and most health workers have limited knowledge about human rights. When introducing health workers to human rights it is extremely important not to overwhelm them with only legal information. This is why the relation between health-related human rights and the daily work of a health worker plays a central role in most of the session plans provided in the Human Rights for Health Workers – IFHHRO Training Manual.

Health workers do not need to become human rights specialists, but having basic knowledge does matter. In their daily work health workers need to take decisions that can mean the difference between the protection or the violation of human rights. What exactly health workers need to learn depends on the country they work in, their specialisation and their previous knowledge about human rights.

Participatory training approach

There is no fixed format for a human rights training programme for health workers. Experience learns that it is possible to interest health workers in human rights as long as they can establish a connection with their own work. An effective way to do this is by using a participatory training approach based on the principles of adult learning in which recognizable situations are used as a starting point to stimulate new insights.

It is this way of thinking that forms the basis for all the session plans available on this website. All session plans have been tried out during IFHHRO trainings. Some session plans are suitable for all trainings, others need to be adapted to the local situation, the learning objectives, or the target group.

Contents

The IFHHRO Training Manual consists of 6 basic parts, each of which contains three or more session plans.

1. Suggestions for planning a training:

  • One-day training – Health and Human Rights
  • One-day training – Access to Pain Treatment and Human Rights
  • One-day training – Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights
  • One-day training – Human Rights Mechanisms
  • Two-day training – Health Workers as Human Rights Actors

The training plans for these sessions can be found in our useful syllabus. It contains direct links to some of the session plans below.

2. Suggestions for the introduction of the participants and the programme:

  • [simple_tooltip content=’During this session, pictures that are cut into half and show human rights issues are distributed among the participants. Each participant has to look for the other half. When pairs are formed they have to discuss the picture, after a few minutes each pair presents their story and themselves in plenary. This provides a quick scan of the level of human rights awareness and expertise among participant and might already raise issues for discussion during later sessions.’]Puzzling with Human Rights - Introducing participants and the subject[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’During this exercise participants and the programme are introduced in one session.’]Definition Game – Introducing participants and the subject[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’This exercise serves as an icebreaker and a quick introduction to the relationship between the health profession and human rights. It fits best in a workshop or training about how health workers can be involved in human rights work.’]Keeping all the Balls in the Air – Introducing participants and the subject[/simple_tooltip]

3. Essential basic information on health and human rights:

  • [simple_tooltip content=’This Board Game covers basic questions and answers about human rights. While playing the game participants are encouraged to think of answers to these questions and to remember them, to get ahead in the game.’]Stepping into Human Rights – An introductory board game[/simple_tooltip]

Download the Game Board: A3 format | A4 format

  • [simple_tooltip content=’This session combines the sessions: Stepping into Human Rights – an introductory board game and Health as a Human Right – the basics. It is advised to facilitate both sessions separately, but when there is a time constraint this combination can be used. The participants will become familiar with the basics of human rights by playing a board game. After the game an overview of the right to health is assembled.’]Stepping into the Right to Health – Combining the board game with the basics of the right to health[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’This session plan links the board game Stepping into Human Right to a specific health issue. It replaces step 3 from the session plan and it is easy to adapt in order to establish a link between the main messages from the game and the major health theme of the training. This specific session plan aims to make a connection between the human rights framework and sexual and reproductive health rights in general.’]Further Steps – Linking the human rights framework to a health issue[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’This is a very versatile session which can be used in combination with other sessions to create a new perspective among participants on the different uses of the human rights framework. During the session actual tools are used as a symbol for the practical application of human rights to health issues. The session can be used both during a general health and human rights training as well as a training which addresses a specific theme. This session plan describes how this method can be used in combination with a session during which an overview of the human rights framework is created such as in Health as a Human Right – The Basics.’]Human Rights Tools[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’During this session an overview is created on sheets of flipchart paper using coloured cards with elements and examples of health as a human right printed on them.  This overview is assembled together with the participants by spreading the cards among them and asking targeted questions about different aspects of health as a human right which need to be answered with the cards.’]Health as a Human Right – the basics[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’This session starts with a comprehensive role play which incorporates different aspects of the relation between health and human rights. Special attention is given to the role of health workers.’]One Big Family – A role play about the link between health and human rights[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’This is an adaptation of the materials used in one of the introductory sessions about human rights in relation to health: Stepping into Human Rights – An introductory board game.  In this adaptation the emphasis is on the UN Human Rights Treaties including the reporting procedures and monitoring mechanisms. It only contains the revised set of cards used during the game.’]Adaptation of material Stepping into Human Rights – emphasis on UN Human Rights Treaties[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’This is an adaptation of the materials used in one of the introductory sessions about human rights in relation to health: Stepping into Human Rights – An introductory board game. In this adaptation the emphasis is on the regional treaties, procedures and mechanisms. It only contains the revised set of cards used during the game.’]Adaptation of material Stepping into Human Rights – with a regional emphasis[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’This is an adaptation of the materials used in one of the introductory sessions about human rights in relation to health: Stepping into Human Rights – An introductory board game. In this adaptation the emphasis is on patient care. It only contains the revised set of cards used during the game.’]Adaptation of material Stepping into Human Rights – emphasis on patient care[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’This training session is an adaptation of the session plan Health as a Human Right- the basics. Part of the human rights framework is combined with case studies from Africa to give the session a more regional focus.’]Adaptation of Health as a Human Right – the framework with case studies from Africa[/simple_tooltip]

4. Health workers and human rights:

  • [simple_tooltip content=’This session plan focuses on the role health workers can play in relation to health related human rights in general. The session begins with a personal story from a health worker as an illustration of a patient care situation with human rights implications. All the actors that play a role in this story are placed into an overview. Afterwards the participants pose each other a series of questions in pairs to become aware of their own standpoint towards the possible roles of health workers. The session concludes with a diagram to illustrate the different spheres in which health workers can play a role.’]Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve – The role of health workers in human rights issues[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’This session begins with a personal story from a health worker as an illustration of a patient care situation with sexual and reproductive rights implications. All the actors that play a role in this story are placed into an overview. Afterwards the participants pose each other a series of questions in pairs to become aware of their own standpoint towards the possible roles of health workers. The session concludes with a diagram to illustrate the different spheres in which health workers can play a role.’]Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve – The role of health workers in sexual and reproductive rights issues[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’During a game, health workers are confronted with human rights issues that occur in different health institutions. They have to take decisions leading to a new situation in which another decision needs to be taken. By playing the game, health workers will become familiar with different human rights issues and realise that they play an important role in protecting the right of their patients. How far their role reaches depends on multiple factors including their personal values and beliefs, position, connections and abilities.’]Mind Your Step – Human rights and human wrongs in health worker practice[/simple_tooltip]

Download Steps for Change – A human rights action guide for health workers

  • [simple_tooltip content=’This session plan uses role playing to familiarize participants with dual loyalty and human rights in health worker practice. Ready made role play scripts are provided for selection. The following themes are covered: prison health, sexual and reproductive rights, access to pain treatment, and health care for undocumented migrants.’]Dual Loyalty and Human Rights – Caught between two players[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’This brief session can be used for multiple purposes in a training course. It can be used to clarify how human rights influence healthcare, to analyze causes and possible solutions of human rights issues in healthcare, to bring together input and examples from previous sessions and as preparation for a session on human rights action’]Spheres of Influence – Health workers and human rights[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’This session consists of three parts. The first part focuses on the preparation of a visit to a health institute by using the AAAQ framework (availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of the health care system). The second part is the actual visit. Participants try to find answers for the questions they have formulated, by interviewing staff and/or patients but also just by looking around. After the visit the answers and type of information they have obtained will be discussed and compared to their own experience.’]Site Visits – Applying the AAAQ framework in health institutions[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’This session is based on the IFHHRO publication Steps for Change: A human rights action guide for health workers, and is meant as an introduction to the Guide. The example used in this session plan has been taken from the Guide but can be replaced to fit the local context.’]Steps for Change – Human rights action by health workers[/simple_tooltip]

Download Steps for Change – A human rights action guide for health workers

5. Different health issues in relation to human rights:

  • [simple_tooltip content=’This session focuses on identifying sexual and reproductive rights issues and linking them to the everyday work of the health worker. It starts with an exercise in which four stories are compiled by the participants using pictures. Each story addresses different sexual and reproductive health rights issues. In the next step these stories are linked to essential elements of a human rights approach to sexual and reproductive rights. The session is concluded by a discussion about how the important human rights issues can be identified and how to use the elements of a human rights based approach to change the situations from the stories in a positive way.’]Everyday Stories – An introduction to sexual and reproductive health rights[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’This session begins with an exercise to illustrate and discuss the prevalence and causes of mental health problems. Afterwards a brief presentation explains applicable definitions and relevant international human rights instruments. This is followed by group work during which participants are asked to identify human rights violations in case studies, and to link these to relevant human rights standards.’]Introduction to Mental Health and Human Rights[/simple_tooltip]

Download PowerPoint on mental health

  • [simple_tooltip content=’This session informs the participants about the different barriers to access to pain treatment. During group work attention is paid to various barriers to access to pain treatment. All barriers found in the case studies are presented in an overview in plenary. The session ends with a discussion about where different kind of barriers originate.’]Barriers to Access to Pain Treatment[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’The topic of this session is access to pain treatment as a human rights issue with a focus on the right to health. During this session an overview is created on sheets of flipchart paper using coloured cards with elements and examples of health as a human right printed on them. This overview is assembled together with the participants by spreading the cards among them and asking targeted questions about different aspects of health as a human right which need to be answered with the cards. The session works well in combination with the session ‘Human Rights Tools’ and other introductory sessions about human rights in relation to health’]Access to Pain Treatment as a Human Rights Issue – The Basics[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’The session starts with the presentation of an extract from a video about palliative care to introduce the topic. It is followed by group work using different case studies about the relation between palliative care and human rights. A discussion in plenary will pay attention to the most relevant international and regional human rights standards related to palliative care and how different actors can contribute to improving situations as mentioned in the case studies.’]Introduction to Palliative Care and Human Rights[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’This session begins with a brief introduction to the issue of domestic violence. Participants are then asked to identify health problems related to domestic violence. This is followed by two short role plays: one role play serves as a negative example of a health care provider treating a victim of domestic violence, the other role play serves as a positive example. The role plays are discussed in plenary, and groups of participants are asked to determine how specific human rights are related to the role plays. These human rights are then connected to measures that a government should take in dealing with domestic violence.  The session is concluded with a brief presentation on the role of health care providers in cases of domestic violence.’]Domestic Violence, Health Care Providers & Human Rights[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’At the start of this session participants are asked to capture the concept ‘patient care’ in a drawing and to depict their own role in patient care. During the group work that follows participants match personal patient care issues to relevant human rights. The results of this group work are compared and discussed at the end of the session.’]Introduction to Human Rights in Patient Care[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’This session consists of a role play portraying an official meeting during which the possible implementation of a harm reduction programme is discussed. After the role play participants are asked to deliberate on the different agendas of the actors round the meeting table, the rights at stake, and the reasons behind the outcome of the meeting. This is followed by a short exercise where participants are asked to link specific human rights to violations in the context of harm reduction.’]Introduction to Harm Reduction and Human Rights[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’The session starts with an exercise using several statements to give the facilitator an impression of the attitudes of the participants towards the subject. It is followed by a short definition game to ensure that everyone has the same understanding about the basic concepts. This is followed by playing a card game where players have to collect sets of cards that link specific violations, standards and interpretations. After the game the triplet cards are used during a plenary discussion to go into more detail about the most relevant human rights standards and how sexual health is a human rights issue for LGBT persons and sex workers.’]Sexual Health and Human Rights – A triplet game with special focus on LGBT persons and sex workers[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’The session starts with group work where each group studies the same case but has to answer different questions. The answers are put together in plenary to create a clear overview of the key examination and medical documentation issues. This is followed by a brief presentation about the international standards and obligations for health practitioners to report and deal with torture. The session ends with suggestions of where findings of torture can be reported.’]Examining, Documenting and reporting Torture – An introductory session[/simple_tooltip]

6. Human rights mechanisms and other issues:

  • [simple_tooltip content=’This session uses a series of coloured cards to present participants with a timeline of the different steps in the reporting procedure to UN Treaty Bodies, possible deviations from these steps, and opportunities for the involvement of civil society at each step. The second part of the session serves as a starting point for further action by identifying how the participants can contribute to the reporting procedure using their own information.’]The Reporting Procedure Under UN Human Rights Treaties & Civil Society[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’This session is an accompaniment to the IFHHRO publicationThe UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health: A Guide for Civil Society. The session starts off with a short plenary TRUE/FALSE quiz to introduce participants to the work of the Special Rapporteur and the type of information that can be found in the IFHHRO Guide. This is followed by group work during which participants are asked to use the guide to determine how fictional civil society organizations could make use of the work of the Special Rapporteur. The outcome of the group work is summarized and discussed in plenary, giving the facilitator an opportunity to provide feedback and additional information.’]The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health & Civil Society[/simple_tooltip]
  • [simple_tooltip content=’This session begins with a plenary exercise during which participants need to assess whether certain scenarios constitute discrimination. This is followed by a brief presentation of the concept of discrimination in the context of human rights. Participants are then asked to come up with their own examples of discrimination at four different levels within the health sector. One example from each level is discussed in detail in plenary to explain how the occurrence of discrimination can be identified. The session is rounded off by presenting the participants with a number of statements on discrimination in the field of health followed by a fact to show whether the statement is discriminatory.’]Human Rights for Everybody? An introduction to discrimination as human rights violation[/simple_tooltip]

Download PowerPoint on discrimination

Components

All sessions are structured in the same way and consist of the following components:

  • Learning objectives: explains what participants should have learned at the end of the session
  • Target group: identifies the type of group for which the session is appropriate
  • Duration: gives the recommended duration of the session
  • Training materials: gives a list of stationery and supplies needed during the session
  • Training aids: lists any supporting tool(s) that are provided at the end of the session plan
  • Handouts: lists documents to distribute also provided at the end of the session plan
  • Session plans: a step by step guide for training delivery including indication of time

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the materials for free?

Yes, you can use and reproduce all the training materials provided that the source is specified.

I like a specific session plan but the case study used is not suitable for my target group, what should I do?

The session plans are meant to give you suggestions about how to structure a session and which method might be useful. Of course you should change it according to the needs of your target group. Feel free to use different case studies, to change the script of a role play, or otherwise adapt it to the local situation.

May I translate the materials?

IFHHRO welcomes applications for rights of translation. Please take the following rules into account:

    • © IFHHRO and IFHHRO logo on the cover page
    • Name(s) of author(s) on the cover page
    • Name of translator on the cover page under authors
    • The same layout as the original version
  • A copy of the translated material should be sent to IFHHRO. All translations will be published on the IFHHRO website.