A card game that shows how people with learning disabilities can exercise their human rights is to be launched this summer.
Cwm Taf People First and the British Institute for Human Rights (BIHR) developed the Game of Rights, which will be unveiled at the self-advocacy charity’s annual festival, VIVA Fest, in Newport, Wales, in August.
“Playing the game can be both fun and educational as it will make people aware of the challenges people with learning disabilities face and the human rights they have,” according to one member of Cwm Taf People First, Stuart (he prefers not to share his surname).
Foundation for justice
Cwm Taf says developing the game provided “a foundation for us to champion human rights better in the future and to ensure that people with learning disabilities are not forgotten, overlooked or devalued when accessing and interacting with public services”.
The easy read game uses real-life stories from Cwm Taf members and from BIHR’s work. The goal is for players to decide which human rights apply to each story. For example, the act’s article 8 on the right to private life supports people’s rights to be involved in decisions that affect their lives.
Each player has a counter and a variety of cards are laid out, each representing a specific human right.
As scenarios are read aloud, players decide which card best matches the situation, placing their counter on it.
Points are awarded to those choosing the most appropriate human right, which also sparks discussion.
BIHR first shared the Game of Rights at its Human Rights Day event in parliament in December last year. It says the project is timely given the threat to disability benefit.
Chief executive Sanchita Hosali explains: “The plans to shake up welfare are likely to have a real impact on disabled people’s human rights, risking the support that allows people to live independently and with basic dignity.
“The better people understand their rights and the duties on government to uphold these, the better equipped they are to hold public power to account – whether that’s through responding to or challenging consultations or having direct conversations with decision-makers.”
The project was part of BIHR’s broader community programme, which involved collaboration with groups across the UK between 2021 and 2025. The aim was to support organisations to use human rights law to address social justice issues.
BIHR chose Cwm Taf People First as a partner because it had a clear, creative vision for how to teach people about their rights.
The better people understand their rights and the duties on government to uphold these, the better equipped they are to hold public power to account
Alongside the game, Cwm Taf has developed podcasts, radio shows, songs and TikTok videos around human rights.
The game took six months to produce. Cwm Taf had the idea of using a fun card game to teach people about their human rights, and worked with BIHR to make it entertaining while also informative.
The project involved online and in-person workshops, a development phase with regular online check-in meetings and a testing session in person in the Cwm Taf offices.
BIHR heard from some of the Cwm Taf members about their favourite games.
Cwm Taf play-tested the first version of the game; around 12 people attended the testing session. BIHR also visited Cwm Taf to play the final version together.
Awareness of human rights is low even among the general public, and BIHR advocates making them a part of everyday conversations.
Hosali says: “The Game of Rights and our other resources are designed to support people to have human rights conversations outside the courtroom.”
