HUMAN RIGHTS DAY 2004
A CALL TO UNITE!

Original hip-hop music video launches a countywide effort to curb violence against children.

Hollywood — Citizens from Santa Clarita to South Central LA rallied with celebrities, artists and concerned community leaders at the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Friday, 10 December, the 56th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The annual event raised funds to export UNITED, a hip-hop music video that teaches human rights to local school children.

UNITED is the creation of a mother and son team, Mary Shuttleworth, Director of Youth for Human Rights International, and her 19-year-old son, up and coming film director, Taron Lexton. The two embarked on a 45-day, 13-country world tour promoting youth for human rights activities. Lexton captured universal images to tell a story that transpires on a downtown LA playground. The music video made its debut at the United Nations in New York at an international youth summit bringing together youth delegates from 22 nations. It has since been translated into 15 languages.

Councilman Martin Ludlow’s Chief of Staff accepts a Human Rights Ambassador award on the Councilman’s behalf presented by Erika Christiansen.

Human Rights Ambassador Awards from the International Foundation of Human Rights and Tolerance were presented for the first time at the event. Film actress Erika Christensen, who has a cameo in UNITED, presented Los Angeles City Councilman Martin Ludlow (10th District) with an Ambassador award for his efforts to make Los Angeles a world-class human rights city through promoting education and reducing the crime rate in his district.

Focusing on the international tragedy of children forced to work as sex slaves, actress Carina Rico acknowledged the work of Marisa Ugarte. Ms. Ugarte has brought sanctuary to hundreds of young girls whose lives had dead-ended in illegal brothels in Southern California after being smuggled across the border.

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

The third award was presented to Ms. Karen Hubbard, the founder and director of “Bless the Children”, an impressive international relief group that is based in Florida. Through the efforts of Ms. Hubbard, “Bless the Children” has in the last few years donated 220 sea containers of humanitarian aid valued at more than $65m to needy children around the world.

“In the words of L. Ron Hubbard, ‛Human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream,’” said Ms. Leisa Goodman, Human Rights Director of the Church of Scientology International. The Church of Scientology has a 50-year record of dedicated work in the field of human rights.