Human Rights Day 2011: Church of Scientology Spearheading Human Rights Education

Human rights are the rights that belong to everyone without exception—topeople of any color, creed, age, ethnicity or gender. But as United NationsSecretary-General Ban Ki-Moon pointed out in his Human Rights Day message thisyear, “…unless we know them, unless we demand they be respected, and unless wedefend our rights — and the right of others — to exercise them, they will beTo make the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rightsknown to all, the Church of Scientology has undertaken a massive human rightseducation initiative, reaching more than 180 million people in 2011 with theinformation on human rights in 17 languages.

Get More Information On The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at http://www.HumanRights.com and http://www.YouthForHumanRights.org

The United Nations estimates that 2.45 million people are trafficked eachyear, nearly a billion live in hunger, and almost half the world’s populationsubsists on less than $2.50 a day, making it clear any momentum generated thisyear must continue and that education and insistence on human rights has neverbeen more vital.In a global demonstration of support for the Universal Declaration of HumanRights and its 30 rights, Scientology Churches and Missions marked Human Rights
Day with seminars, rallies, concerts, round tables, forums and festivals, andhelped organize more than 80 human rights walks in 26 countries to raiseawareness of the Declaration and the need for its full implementation.In 1969, L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “The United Nations came up with the answer.An absence of human rights stained the hands of governments and threatened theirrules. Very few governments have implemented any part of the UniversalDeclaration of Human Rights. These governments have not grasped that their verysurvival depends utterly upon adopting such reforms and thus giving theirpeoples a cause, a civilization worth supporting, worth their patriotism.”For more than four decades, the Church has worked to make the UniversalDeclaration of Human Rights broadly known. The Declaration appeared in the firstedition of Freedom Magazine, the Church’s human rights journal, in 1968. In1998, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Declaration, the Churchcarried out the first of five annual cross-European marathons, reaching anestimated 33 million with its message in support of human rights.Ten years ago, the Church began publishing materials that present theUniversal Declaration of Human Rights in terms anyone can understand. Thesebooklets, award-winning public service announcements and human rightsdocumentary videos are available free of charge to any individual or group.“There are many examples in history of what individuals can accomplish bydemanding their rights and insisting on the rights of others,” says Rev. RobertAdams, Vice President of the Church of Scientology International. “But aknowledge of these rights comes first. The United Nations adopted the UniversalDeclaration of Human Rights in 1948, yet in many ways, despite advances, theviolations of its articles are as abhorrent today as they were six decades ago.We work with many dedicated groups, organizations, agencies and governmentbodies to make human rights a reality. To achieve this goal, education in humanrights must be mandatory, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights must begiven the force of law.”

Since Human Rights Day 2010, through direct action and sponsorship of activities and materials, the Church of Scientology has reached hundreds ofmillions of people with humans rights information, distributing more than 2million publications and providing educational materials to more than 45,000human rights organizations and 4,500 educators and educational institutions.

Links: http://www.HumanRights.com and http://www.YouthForHumanRights.org

The Scientology religion was founded by author and philosopher L. RonHubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in the United States in 1954

and has grown to more than 9,000 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups andmillions of members in 165 countries. More information: http://www.Scientology.org

International Human Rights Day 2010

International Human Rights Day 2010

Today we celebrate December 10th, 1948 when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the United Nations. Since then we have made huge strides toward improved human rights but much, much more needs to be done. Human Rights Education is needed so that people everywhere can know about this document and know, too, that with human rights come responsibilities (UDHR, Article #29).

Congratulations to all who are working to improve human rights and celebrating Human Rights Day. Thank you and congratulations!

Congratulations to all those who submitted, "What are Human Rights?" art, essays and poetry from countries such as the Philippines, Zambia and the United States. What a delight to see how vividly those concepts pop off the pages. Bright ideas! Bright colors! Bright messages! I appreciate your educators and the thought and care that went into your inspiring creations. Congratulations!

Artwork by Rico in the Philippines

Congratulations to our Youth for Human Rights teams in countries around the world who are participating in our International Walk for Human Rights. Youth walking down the street, around the block, over the bridge, in the snow, in the rain or in the sunshine. Some carrying their country flags, some carrying candles and some carrying banners promoting human rights.

Remember, all the footsteps together are going a long way toward promoting human rights. We still have a considerable distance to go but, through your efforts, our forward progress is certain. Congratulations!

Happy Human Rights Day 2010!

Mary Shuttleworth, Ed.D.
President

http://www.youthforhumanrights.org/

Scientology Today: International Youth Summit Demands Governments Restore Fundamental Human Rights

Scientology Today: International Youth Summit Demands Governments Restore Fundamental Human Rights

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Singer reaches out to Lynn students

Daily Item, The (Lynn, MA)
Author: ROBIN KAMINSKI; THE DAILY ITEM

Singer/songwriter Kelly Riley wants to extend her musical talents to kids in Lynn who are eager to learn how to make music. Having recently received an alumni grant from Berklee College of Music in Boston for $5,000, Riley, a Lynn resident, is ready to teach a handful of kids how to hone their own musical abilities. However, due to the limited funds, Riley said she is going to select the dozen or so kids by holding an essay contest. "I thought it would be a good idea to have a contest for kids to understand a little more about the Declaration of Human Rights because it has everything to do with music, creativity and the freedom of expression," she said. "Just a little paragraph or two about why they think it's important."

Riley said she got the idea for the essay topic from a volunteer gig a few years back, called Youths For Human Rights International in Boston. The group is an independent non-profit corporation that aims to educate young people on their human rights.

"The more kids understand their human rights, the more they will understand people," she said. "I also plan to give each of the kids a booklet on all of the 30 human rights, a recorder, and voice once a week for eight weeks for school-aged kids who are seven to 17 years old. "I'm also looking for donations of small electric key boards and guitars," she said. "For those kids that can't get instruments, I'll give them voice lessons instead."

As a child, Riley said she picked up her older brother's guitar and quickly learned how to play the instrument, and is excited to help other children realize their own talents.
"The alumni grant is all about setting examples and doing good things," she said. "I thought it would be a good idea to teach a few underprivileged kids in the city."

Copyright, 2008, The Daily Item, All Rights Reserved.

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