August 17, 2010

NEW YORK – "Only when we all know our human rights, can we have dignity, freedom and peace," said Michael Hall, speaking for the New York Branch of Youth for Human Rights, on the New York streets Saturday as part of a worldwide network of petitioning events.

Youth for Human Rights is a worldwide network of groups in 88 countries, and YFHR volunteers and supporters held human rights petition drives from August 12 through August 15 in honor of the UN International Day of Youth.

Hall, one of a group manning a colorful booth and gathering signatures, explained that the Youth for Human Rights Petition aims at bringing about real implementation of the Universal Declaration. The petition has been signed to date by hundreds of thousands of people around the world.

"While we think of other countries as the site of human rights violations, there are situations in this country – human trafficking, discrimination against minorities, intolerance of individual expression – that need to be dealt with. And we need to be vigilant to ensure our rights are preserved."

"And on a more personal level," said Hall, "a commitment to human rights allows us to treat one other with dignity and respect," said Hall .

"Even children have human rights," says Hall, "and as we enter the United Nations International Year of Youth, we urge leaders in countries around the world to recognize that where youth do not know their rights, they are particularly vulnerable."

The petition urges that such leaders promote the UDHR and "cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories," in accordance with the General Assembly when the document was adopted and proclaimed on December 10th, 1948.

YFHR was founded by members of the Church of Scientology, but now includes people from a wide variety of creeds and ethnicities. More data, downloadable videos re human rights, and a chance to sign the petition online, are available at http://www.youthforhumanrights.org.

Church of Scientology New York