New Human Rights Educational Film Launched at the Concert for Human Rights in Brussels

New Human Rights Educational Film Launched at the Concert for Human Rights in Brussels

“60 years after, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights cannot be just a luxury neither a mere auspice,” denounce President of LAW Legal Aid Worldwide.

Brussels, Belgium, December 26, 2008 --(PR.com)-- To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a new human rights educational film has been launched during the “Concert for Human Rights” at the Théatre Royal du Parc, featuring “one of today’s best guitarists”, according the critics, Italian Flavio Cucchi, and French mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Jacques. Keynote speaker of the celebration was Ms. Laura Guercio, President of L.A.W. - Legal Aid Worldwide.

The European premiere of the film titled “The story of Human Rights” was warmly welcomed by the audience composed of diplomats, representatives of European Institutions and agencies and concerned organization of civil society, recognizing the need to dramatically improve the human rights standards in all countries of the world.

As noted by Ms. Laura Guercio, “the Universal Declaration is not luxury neither a mere auspice. Sixty years after the declaration, many members of the human family are still far enjoying the own rights and the own necessities of base.”

The denounce of L.A.W.’s President echoed the recent figures released by UN Agency ILO, International Labor Organization, reporting 30 million men, women and children subjugated all over the world, a figure that exceeds the number of slaves deported from Africa between 1450 and 1900. According to ILO there are over 100 million children exploited in every corner of Earth and over 300,000 child-soldier spread in war torn countries around the world. According to analysis of the UN and the International Organization for Migration, slavery is today the third world market after drug and weapon trafficking, with revenue touching 13 billion dollar yearly.

After 60 years, the world is a very long way from achieving the goals laid down in the Universal Declaration. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navanethem Pillay, has just warned that “tens of millions of people around the world are still unaware that they have rights that they can demand, and that their governments are accountable to them, and to a wide-ranging body of rights-based national and international law.” The film “Story of Human Rights” serves the purpose of filling the gap of awareness of the unalienable basic rights of all men in all countries, in all Continents.

The concert was organized by the Brussels Committee of the 60th Anniversary of the UDHR, a number of organizations from diverse backgrounds but all committed to improve human rights: Global Human Rights Defense, European Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance, European Human Rights Office of the Church of Scientology International; L.A.W.- Legal Aid Worldwide; the Protestant Liberal Church of Bruxelles; the Youth for Human Rights International; Institute for Peace and Development and the United International.

For more information:

www.60thanniversary.org
info@60thanniversary.org

Human Rights Summit 2008

July 2nd, 2008

Youth for Human Rights International

INVITATION

Dear Friends,

As the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights approaches its 60th Anniversary, only a small percentage of the population worldwide know of its existence. Today, the UN reports that more than a billion people are without clean water; most of the 25 million who have HIV/AIDS in Africa have no access to health care; and 121 million children are denied a basic education. Furthermore, Amnesty International has documented serious human right abuses by armed opposition groups in 42 countries, including deliberate and arbitrary killings of civilians. Viewing these statistics, who could disagree that actions must be taken now to make human rights known, understood and most importantly, put into practice.

With this aim in mind, Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) has teamed up with the Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology and Artists for Human Rights for its annual international human rights summit and Human Rights Heroes Awards presentations to be held this year in New York.

Our first such event were held in August 2004 at the United Nations Headquarters and UNICEF House in New York and in Los Angeles in 2005. In 2006 the summit was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and last year it was held at the University of California in Los Angeles. Participants have included delegates have from the USA, Canada, UK, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Uganda, Liberia, Zambia, Congo, Morocco, Nepal, Toga, Egypt, Guatemala, Guyana, Mexico, Colombia and the Philippines along with UN officials and UN country mission representatives, human rights and religious leaders, NGOs, local community activists and students.

Our three-day series of events will begin on September 5th with a ceremony at the United Nations Headquarters, New York. In the evening we will present the recipients of the 2008 International Human Rights Heroes Awards at the elegant Roosevelt Hotel. The following day we will host the Human Rights Conference followed by an Inter-Religious Parade and Service on Sunday afternoon, September 7th at the Dag Hammerskjold Plaza in New York.

As has been our tradition, youth will play a prominent role in the events with young human rights activist attending from around the world to represent their countries.

Entrance to all events is free of charge to enable broad participation by young people and the community at large. However it is suggested that you RSVP as soon as possible as seating is limited and those on the RSVP list will receive first preference. The United Nations clearance procedures require prior submission of names for security purposes so please confirm early to avoid disappointment.

For further information about us visit our website at www.youthforhumanrights.org. Please feel free to call the YHRI office with any questions or email us at info@youthforhumanrights.org.

I look forward to seeing you and welcome your active involvement in our joint efforts to make human rights become a reality for all.

With kind regards,
Mary Shuttleworth
President
Youth for Human Rights International

Youth for Human Rights #20

Renegade School Board Member Educates Parents On ADHD Alternatives

ADHD has never been proven to be a neuro-developmental disease by any

of the currently acceptable scientific standards. There is a lack of

empirical evidence (meaning it cannot be repeated, tested, measured, or

verified) that ADHD is a disease by definition. Therefore, to make such

a claim is fraudulent.

NowPublic

Artists for Human Rights International Fine Art Show

International Deadline: September 15, 2007 - Call for entries for the International Fine Art Exhibition at the James Gray Gallery in Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, CA November 14-25, 2007. Exhibition of artwork reflecting the 1948 United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Show sponsored by Artists for Human Rights, founded by Actress Anne Archer.

All qualified submissions will be included in the show in a video of human rights art. Art juried to be hung in the show will also be on the AFHR website.

DETAILS

Academy Award Nominated Actress and activist Anne Archer founded Artists for Human Rights in 2006 to inspire artists to make known and forward the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, a document that moved the issues of human rights to the forefront of international importance. One hundred and ninety-one nations on the planet ratified the Declaration, acknowledging that all peoples of the earth have these basic rights. Yet by survey 98% of the population doesn’t know it exists.

As an artist, you have a unique opportunity to make a difference globally, to communicate ideas and raise awareness of important issues such as this Universal Declaration. The state of the world today is evidence that this vital document needs a voice. We as artists are providing that voice.

In just one year, AFHR has become a driving force for Human Rights. In New York City in August 2006 it co-sponsored the Youth for Human Rights Summit at the United Nations, opened the summit with an International Human Rights Art Exhibition in Soho and put on a huge Human Rights Concert in Union Square, hosted by Anne Archer with performances by internationally renowned musicians and a film presenting each of the 30 articles of the Declaration. The NY art show then traveled to Los Angeles in October where again it drew artists, celebrities, and media attention promoting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The AFHR website has been launched (www.artistsforhumanrights.org) and an on-line gallery is now being created. In December 2007, AFHR will be featured in Italy at the International Florence Biennale.

HB 2097 "ENSURING SAFETY .......

Click image to read

HB 2097
"ENSURING SAFETY AND SECURITY IN BIOMEDICAL LABORATORIES AND FACILITIES"

Find out more at
Human Rights for Massachusetts
HR4MASS
P.O. Box 390218
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-888-3286

Click image to read

Congress

Amnesty International News USA

Making Human Rights a fact in Massachusetts

Human Rights for Massachusetts Initiative (HR4MASS) a coalition of groups interested in "MAKING HUMAN RIGHTS A FACT IN MASSACHUSETTS. " We work with the legislature to increase broad awareness and implementation of the whole gamut of human rights (civil, political, economic, cultural, and social), through education and possibly the establishment of an independent Commonwealth Human Rights Commission.” Dr. Laura Roskos, co-founder and acting director of the Massachusetts CEDAW Project and chair of the Advancing Human Rights Committee.

HR4MASS will hold its next coalition meeting on Monday, January 22, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the offices of Community Change, 14 Beacon Street, Room 605.

Available for community leaders, teachers and like-minded Human Rights groups is a visual presentation of the 30 Declaration of Human Rights. This video made available, along with booklets, by the Youth for Human Rights International, headed by Kelly Riley for New England. For a free video and Universal Declaration of Human Rights booklet contact kelly-riley@usa.net

For further information about
The Human Rights for Massachusetts Initiative
Contact: masscedaw@yahoo.com
Phone: 617-521-2666
Fax: 617-994-4278

The Massachusetts CEDAW Project, Center for Women’s Health & Human Rights
Suffolk University
41 Temple St.
Boston, MA 02114-4280

Local News - Human Rights

The Church of Scientology of Boston has announced an even greater commitment in 2007 to combating human rights violations and increasing awareness through its education program.

Last June, the Church and Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) released a series of public service announcements to bring to life the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 30 or 60-second video spots. Appealing to young and old, these powerful PSAs have now aired on more than 2,200 TV stations, to 280 million people in 60 countries around the world. They have also been playing in colleges, movie theatres, concerts and cable stations throughout
New England.

To spread its message further, YHRI representatives embarked on a world tour covering 60,000 miles last July and August. The tour, “30 Days-30 Events-30 Rights,” began and ended in Los Angeles and visited Canada, eight countries in Europe, seven in Asia as well as Australia, New Zealand and the Fiji Islands. Events were held in each country, where YHRI met with government leaders and officials, human rights organizations, educators, media, students, religious groups and youth groups.

“The keynote of our campaign is education,” stated Gerard Renna “A young person who understands his human rights is starting life with the right values. He will treat people with respect, and he will not tolerate violations of these rights. By teaching youth about human rights, we are creating a generation of human rights activists.”

Additionally 2006 saw the launch of the Human Rights Hero Awards in countries all over the world to recognize outstanding achievements in the promotion of human rights. Local winners were also awarded in Boston and a New England delegation attended the New York event last August. The awards culminated in an international ceremony held in the United Nations headquarters in New York last August. Awardees ranged from a former Army colonel from Uganda who is spearheading activities to bring an end to the use of child soldiers, to a 12-year-old student in Israel who has taken it upon himself to educate his entire school using the YHRI educational tools.


The Church’s Human Rights Department and YHRI have continued to tackle one of the worst human rights abuses-human trafficking. Now a $9.5 billion a year criminal enterprise, it is the fastest growing with an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 victims trafficked across international borders, according to a United Nations news statement of November 2005. Several human trafficking conferences were held or participated in last year, and YHRI also produced an informational flyer about human trafficking for children.

“Working hand in hand with other human rights organizations, we plan to increase public awareness of this appalling human rights abuse. We cannot allow slavery in the 21st century,” said Gerard Renna.

By the close of 2006, 80 Youth for Human Rights groups or chapters existed in 36 countries. The New England chapter is directed by Kelly Riley, a professional singer/songwriter who volunteers her time to help get out this important message and get Youth for Human Rights clubs started.

For more information visit Youth for Human Rights International

Youth for Human Rights

United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights # 1 www.youthforhumanrights.org