Human Rights News - Church of Scientology Human Rights Department

June 9, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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“DO HUMAN RIGHTS HAVE A FUTURE?”
TWO GENERATIONS IN PUBLIC FORUM

“Two panels, two viewpoints, two generations, one world” were the elements of a public forum held at Church of Scientology International Celebrity Centre, entitled “Do Human Rights Have a Future?” The forum was attended by a 200-strong audience of public officials, university students, interfaith representatives and social activists.

The adult panel composed of nine decades of combined experience in defending human rights, consisted of: Irving Sarnoff, Director of Friends of the United Nations, Reverend Leonard Jackson President of the L.A. Council of Churches, and Ted Eagans, human rights activist.

The youth viewpoint was presented by four students, all active in community service. They included, Tracie Morrow, spokesperson for Youth for Human Rights International and UCLA students Becky Mangold, Alex Lewis and Angela Mazer.

Leisa Goodman, Human Rights Director, Church of Scientology International, urged that human rights must be made a reality by knowing and insisting that they are applied.

Reverend Leonard Jackson, Associate Pastor of the First AME, spoke of abuses of women and the resultant slavery that thrives on the aftermath of war. “Human rights well learned and applied will bring about a more stable view of life,” said Jackson. “We must have a common thread, for the sake of our future. We must find that common ground, and that common ground is human rights.” Upon ending his speech, Rev. Jackson turned to the youth panel and stated, “The ball is in your court. We will make a difference; we must make a difference. It is your game.”

Panelist, Ted Eagans, a human rights activist, related how his grand nephew had been recently shot and killed near his home. “Violence strikes unwitting victims. Human rights have been reduced to being able to walk through a neighborhood without being attacked because of wearing the wrong colors. Rights have to be inclusive of the other person”, he said.

UCLA student and panelist, Alex Lewis, spoke of sports and human rights, with regard to the next Olympic Games being hosted by China. He characterized China as a country notorious for its abuse of human rights and emphasized the need for fully confronting and addressing this issue.

During the open discussion, Ernestine Peters, former Regional Director of the NAACP, responded, stating it is not only the concern of the Olympic host country, but all countries involved. She pointed out that violations occurred at the Olympics in Mexico when three African Americans were blackballed from all sports.

The role of the United States in protecting human rights was brought up by Becky Mangold. She stated how the US should promote human rights and be a leader in this field, insisting on the responsibility and the accountability of the U.S. President regarding the recent violations of human rights.

Mary Shuttleworth, Director of Youth for Human Rights International, an outreach project of the International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance, addressed the panel and audience and spoke of the importance of teaching children human rights. She spoke about education and how it holds the key to freedom. She quoted humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard, “Human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream.”

Ms. Shuttleworth concluded, “I know we don’t have a prayer of accomplishing this if our children are not introduced to the one document that has been embraced internationally as a guide for all nations to achieve a more peaceful world, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” she said. “We won’t stop until all children know they are born free and equal”.