2B: Purpose Of The Study Guide

The Paga Hill Estate struggle is typical of many conflicts over development in both rich and poor countries around the world. Forced resettlement is also involved in the building of facilities for mega-events such as the Olympics, in the spread on to traditional lands of agribusiness such as palm oil plantations, for supposed security reasons, and in the building of infrastructure such as roads and railways.

This study guide is designed to outline the standards and norms that are supposed to govern the practices of governments and private corporations in order to protect the rights of citizens. It looks at mechanisms of accountability and possible avenues for those struggling against forced resettlements in the international human rights framework and in evolving standards governing the behaviour of private corporations.

The Opposition documentary highlights various strategies for fighting against forced relocation by communities. The study guide explores these strategies and focuses on ways to research abuses, the identification of allies – both domestic and international, and highlights the right of communities to participate meaningfully in decisions that affect their rights as agreed through international standards enshrined in international law on human rights and in development.

The Opposition Clip 04: Lawyer Meeting

The study guide may be used in a formal classroom settings by academic institutions and may be appropriate to courses and subjects in business, human rights, law, social inquiry and community development. Course facilitators may select sections most appropriate to their specific course outlines.

NGOs and civil society groups with a focus on human rights, governance institutions and corporate social responsibility arms of business will also find this guide useful in a workshop setting.

The study guide contains opportunities for written work, suggested research topics and practical exercises, as well as lists of reference documents. All of these focus on means of exposing abuses through the use of available accountability mechanisms and through the unearthing of information useful for advocacy.

The way these assignments and exercises are used depend on the circumstances in which the film is shown. This may vary from one showing to its use in academic courses.

If a part of an academic course, it would be up to the lecturer to decide how much or how little of this guide would be appropriate and which of the exercises and assignments are appropriate to the specific course.