Fifty-eight years after adoption, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights comes to life in 30 different public service announcements.

United Nations officials, embassy representatives and celebrities joined 120 youth delegates from 25 nations at an international youth summit honoring human rights heroes and featuring the world premiere of a unique new human rights education tool.

United Nations officials, embassy representatives and celebrities joined together with actress Anne Archer and 120 delegates from 25 nations at an international youth summit that honors human rights heroes. This summit featured a unique new tool to teach people about their human rights — 30 public service announcements for TV, each portraying a different article of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The "Summit on Making Human Rights a Global Reality", was held in Assembly Room One, in United Nations headquarters, New York. It drew human rights activists from countries including the United States, France, Britain, Liberia, Egypt, Uganda, Nepal, Guyana, Mexico and Colombia.

Organized by the Church of Scientology International in coordination with Youth for Human Rights International and the International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance, the event also featured a ceremony where Anne Archer presented International Human Rights Hero awards.

Delegates of the summit were welcomed by Mr. Enzo di Taranto of "United Nations Action Two" and Mr. Hans Janischek, President of the United Nations Society of Writers.

The new PSAs, produced by the Church of Scientology International and Youth for Human Rights International and directed by 22-year-old Taron Lexton received a standing ovation from the 450 attendees.

Honored with International Human Rights Hero Awards were Iranian-born Nazanin Afshim-Jam, former Miss Canada, who has now become a prominent advocate for the rights of the disadvantaged; Joseph Jay Yaseriah, founder of the Youth for Human Rights Liberia Chapter who grew up during the horrific genocides of the 1990s where he was twice forced to flee his country before returning to bring reconciliation and reconstruction to his fellow Liberians; Luse Berking, a native Samoan who works with at-risk youth in New Zealand; Chinese-born Teresa Chung, a writer and advocate for women's rights; and Maxim Weithers who actively campaigns for human rights education in Canada.

"L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Scientology religion, stressed the importance of human rights, writing: 'Human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream,'" said Leisa Goodman, the Human Rights Director of the Church of Scientology International. "With the tremendous popularity of these PSAs, the work of Human Rights Heroes such as those who were awarded here today and the grassroots movement to implement human rights education for all youth around the world gaining such momentum, we know we will make this 'dream' come true."

Joseph Jay Yaseriah, founder of the Youth for Human Rights Liberia Chapter, was awarded as a "Human Rights Hero" for his work to bring peace to his country.

The youth delegate from Japan is shown here with Teresa Chung and Nazanin Afshim-Jam, two Human Rights Heroes awarded at the ceremony.

 Subscribe with RSS    Digg this Article   del.icio.us