March 20, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Leisa Goodman
Human Rights Director
Church of Scientology International
6331 Hollywood Blvd. Suite 1200
Los Angeles, CA 90028-6329
Phone (323) 960-3500
Fax (323) 960-3508
E-mail humanrightsdir@scientology.net
WORLD EDUCATIONAL TOUR TEACHES HUMAN RIGHTS TO YOUTH IN 13 COUNTRIES
Director of Youth for Human Rights International, educator Mary Shuttleworth of Los Angeles, today arrived back in Los Angeles after a 45,000-mile tour through 13 major world cities over 35 days to promote the teaching of human rights to young people.
Ms. Shuttleworth, accompanied by her son Taron Lexton, a recent graduate of the Los Angeles Film School, conducted the world educational tour to raise awareness of human rights. As a result, she obtained commitments from educators, community leaders and government officials to increase their efforts to convey to young people the importance of human rights.
Mary and Taron began their world adventure on February 7 and visited Hong Kong; Taipei, Taiwan; Tokyo, Japan; Bangkok, Thailand; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; New Delhi, Indai: Kathmandu, Nepal; Lusaka, Zambia; Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa; Accra, Ghana; Caracas, Venezuela; George Town, Guyana; and Mexico City. They returned to Los Angeles on March 13.
Founded in 2001, Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) teaches youth around the world about human rights, specifically the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, to help them become human rights advocates.
"Only firsthand knowledge, as we have gained on this tour, allows one to truly understand the daunting problems facing children in every corner of the world today," said Ms. Shuttleworth. "Through this tour we know that we have greatly increased the impact and importance of human rights among youth."
Emphasizing the vital necessity of teaching human rights to tomorrow's leaders, Ms. Shuttleworth pointed to facts that demonstrate the continued violation of basic rights around the world:
* At least 700,000 persons are trafficked into slavery each year. More than 8 million children are used as slaves.
* More than 133 million children in the developing world are without access to basic education.
* One third of all children born today are not registered at birth, resulting in no official record of their existence and leaving them vulnerable to denial of health care and schooling.
* A survey by Amnesty International in 2000 found that conditions of detention amounting to cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment still occur in at least 90 countries.
Following the World Tour, YHRI now operates in 25 countries. The group has launched a series of innovative projects such as essay competitions and murals to teach youth about their rights. "When you teach them through plays and other entertaining forms, they realize that these rights are also meant for them and they can ascertain if they are being violated," said Ms. Shuttleworth, who has 30 years of experience in the field of education.
Among its teaching materials, YHRI has produced a booklet, What are Human Rights?, which contains a simplified version of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights designed especially for the young. Among the organizations using the booklet is UNESCO, which in 2003 started distributing copies to its affiliated schools.
The World Educational Tour was coordinated by the Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology International and the International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance. Youth for Human Rights International is a project of the Los Angeles-based Foundation.
Visit:
www.youthforhumanrights.org
www.humanrightsandtolerance.org
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