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

Members of the youth panel (left to right): Tracie Morrow, Youth for Human Rights International, and UCLA students Becky Mangold and Angela Mazer.

“Two panels, two viewpoints, two generations, one world” were the elements of a public forum held at the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre International and 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 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.

Mary Shuttleworth, Director, Youth for Human Rights International, shows What are Human Rights?, an educational tool for teaching human rights to children.

The adult panel, which can claim 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.

Reverend Jackson, who is also Associate Pastor of the First AME, spoke of the slavery that thrives on the aftermath of war. 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 said, “The ball is in your court. We will make a difference.”

Human rights activist Ted Eagans (at microphone) and other members of the experienced panel: Rev. Leonard Jackson, First AME Church, and Irving Sarnoff, Friends of the UN.

Panelist Ted Eagans 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 emphasized that sports should promote human rights. With regard to the 2008 Olympic Games being held in Beijing, he characterized China as a country known for its abuses of human rights. He said that there is a need to confront and address this issue. Ernestine Peters, former Regional Director of the NAACP, responded, stating it is not only the concern of the Olympic host country to advance human rights, but of all countries participating in the Olympics.

Leisa Goodman, Human Rights Director, Church of Scientology International.

Becky Mangold defined the United States’ role as to promote human rights and be a leader in this field.

Mary Shuttleworth, Director of Youth for Human Rights International, an outreach project of the International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance, spoke of the importance of teaching human rights to children. 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.”

UCLA student and youth panel member Alex Louis.

The discussion provoked lively commentary from the audience.