August 25, 2006

NEW YORK – With war and attendant human right violations dominating the daily news, a summit at the United Nations on Friday (August 25) presented human rights education as a practical route to world peace. Celebrities, human rights heroes, and artists participated alongside grassroots reformers from 40 countries around the world.

"Imagine how different this world would appear if member nations had implemented real human rights education from the late 1940s," said Tim Bowles, Executive Director of Youth for Human Rights International, who opened the event in front of 500 attendees in Conference Room One at United Nations headquarters.

"We would not care to imagine how our global civilization might appear if we fail now to take effective action on teaching human rights universally to our next generation," he continued. Youth for Human Rights International teamed up with the Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology International, the International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance, and Artists for Human Rights in co-organizing the event.

Mr. Enzo Di Taranto of the UN welcomed the group on behalf of the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, and describing the central role of rights in the mission of the UN. Mr. Hans Janitschek, President of the UN Society of Writers, described the vital role of artists in bringing about reform and in implementing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Rev. John Carmichael, President of the Church of Scientology of New York, explained why his church put such emphasis on the urging of its founder L. Ron Hubbard, that "Human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream."

Youth delegates from around the world shared the dais with experts from the reform groups and the UN, and spoke from the floor in discussions of effective action.

But it was the international premiere of 30 one-minute impactful public service announcements about the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which brought the crowd to its feet. Soon the attendees were enthusiastically discussing how to use and promote these learning tools to make human rights a reality.

The creative force behind the PSAs, award-winning director and filmmaker, Taron Lexton, spoke about his vision as a 22-year old in creating these human rights messages. Mr. Lexton said, "I know a film maker can change the world. I poured everything I had into these PSAs, because people everywhere have a right to know their human rights."

As proof that individual effort really can change conditions, the crowd saw and heard from five outstanding awardees who received the International Human Rights Hero award, presented at the UN by actress, Anne Archer.

Awardee Joseph Jay Yarsiah, as a teenager was forced out of his native Liberia on three different occasions due to the violent fighting. Despite danger and devastation, he said, "I returned because only through education of the people of Liberia on their human rights, and the rights of others, is there hope for an end to conflict in my country." He has since founded a Liberian chapter of Youth for Human Rights, and is educating both governments and civilians.

From grassroots to high elegance, awardee Teresa Cheung, born in Hong Kong, is a fashion icon, film star, syndicated columnist, and a tireless advocate for the rights of women and children.

Awardee Nasanin Afshim-Jam, crowned Miss World Canada in 2003, and was runner-up for Miss World that same year. Putting her singer career on hold several months ago, she took up the case of a young Iranian woman who had been condemned to hanging for killing a man who with two others was trying to rape her and her niece. As a result of Nazanin's campaign, the woman has been granted a new trial, and observers hope she will receive a just result this time.

Luce Berking, a young native Samoan from New Zealand, and Maxim Weithers, from Canada, also received Human Rights Hero Awards.

The summit was preceded by a human rights art exhibit the evening before, at the prestigious Westwood Gallery. Following the summit, a concert entitled, "Artists Taking a Stand for Human Rights," entertained 2,000 in Union Square Park that evening.

Church of Scientology New York