October 20, 2007

NEW YORK – The Alliance for Democracy and Human Rights in Nepal (ADHRN), based in Jackson Heights, has started an ambitious program of human rights education for Nepalese youth and adults, in collaboration with Youth for Human Rights International.

Their first meeting was a Nepalese community service program on youth development and human rights earlier this month at Community Church, in Jackson Heights. Nepalese immigrant youth, children and their parents living in New York and New Jersey joined with representatives of YFHR International, discussing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its relevance.

Local rights leaders, including Mr. Ram Babu Dakhal, a career diplomat specializing in human rights, and Mr. Khagendra G.C., prominent Nepalese lawyer, talked about the problems facing Nepalese immigrant youth being marginalized in the community, in respect to their education, employment, working conditions, and documented or undocumented status. They also expressed concerns over the abuse of human rights of youth in the context of customs and traditions in their respective societies.

Rev. John Carmichael, of the Church of Scientology New York, presented a set of award-winning videos on the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration, declaring, the words of author L. Ron Hubbard, that "Human Rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream." "The meeting at the beginning of this month was important for showing the important of human rights in our community," said Mr. Dakhal. "We will be able to build on it, until our our youth, and indeed all people, know and insist upon their rights."

Anyone interested in working with the group should contact Dakhal via youthforhumanrightsnyc@msn.com.

Church of Scientology New York