David Chen of BEN TV with his Human Rights Ambassador Award and Mary Shuttleworth
2007-06-15 00:23:51 - Youth for Human Rights International World Tour 2007 Comes to London
An international human rights education and campaigning group this week visited London as part of its 2007 World Tour. The Founder & President of Youth for Human Rights International, Mary Shuttleworth met with human rights leaders and addressed dignitaries and human rights advocates at an event on Wednesday 30th May, hosted by the Church of Scientology London.
At the event were representatives of different organisations interested in forwarding this message to educate people about what their human rights are as by survey around 90% don't actually know.
Speaking at the event was Simon Chorley of Stop the Traffik, 'it is obscene that whereas men used to be the main targets, it is now women and children, with 80% of trafficking victims being female and over half being children-.
Simon enlightened the audience on the hard facts about human trafficking today, now with more people being trafficked than at the time of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Human rights ambassador awards were given to individuals for their achievements in ensuring human rights are known about and actually implemented.
David Chen of BEN TV is a pioneer in the field of human rights in a number of ways from airing human rights public service announcements on his TV program to the grass roots level of bringing communities together. Along any avenue possible David is involved in increasing awareness about human rights and making the world a more peaceful place.
Solicitor Richard Clifford has for several years been representing the Chagossian Islanders, who were evicted from their Indian Ocean islands in the 60s. He has won a series of victories in the courts, all with the aim of enabling the islanders to return to their homeland. Richard entitled a paper he wrote about the ongoing case in 2004, 'Chagos Islands - The Land Where Human Rights Hardly Ever Happen.- In addressing the audience on Wednesday, Richard described how in the 1960's & 70's the peoples of the Chagos Archipelago were illegally evicted by Britain so the main island could be leased to the United States, and their long-running campaign to be allowed to return home - a goal that is now much closer to being realised.
Another award winner was 20-year-old racing driver Niki Lanik. Niki made a flying start to his racing career, winning the 2006 Winter Club Clio Championship. After seeing the importance of educating youth on human rights, he races under the banner of Youth for Human Rights, promoting the human rights message in every race, to 100s of thousands through TV coverage.
As 2007 moves on, all who attended agreed to collaborate and work on making human rights a reality.
The purpose of Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) is very simple - to teach youth about human rights, specifically the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and inspire them to become advocates for tolerance and peace.
When children do not know their rights they are vulnerable. Millions of children have become victims of poverty, HIV/AIDS and human trafficking. In all parts of the inhabited world, children are at risk. Knowledge of their human rights can empower young people to defend themselves and help others.
As humanitarian and founder of the Scientology religion, L Ron Hubbard, once stated, 'Human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream-.
Contact: Mark Pinchin
Tel: 0207 2462717
Mob: 07796 498520
Email: mpinchin@scientology.org.uk
Web: www.youthforhumanrights.org
