Youth for Human Rights

Vancouver Youth Taking Charge of Their Community

The Youth for Human Rights International newest group was formed in Vancouver, B.C. to educate young people on their basic human rights.

(PRWEB) September 16, 2005 -- Using a hard hitting music video UNITED, the Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) newest chapter was formed by teens in Vancouver, British Columbia at a special viewing and briefing by local Church of Scientology Public Affairs Director, Susan Kerr. Teen leaders Cory Thomson, Corbin Campbell and Gordon Kerr along with a group made up of teens and pre-teens have taken up the challenge to educate young people on their rights with the aim of making their city a better place and urge others to join in.

The purpose of YHRI is to teach youth about human rights empowering them to become advocates for tolerance and peace. The YHRI is headquartered in Los Angeles and has chapters throughout the world. It was started by educator and school principal, Mary Shuttleworth. Having spent 30 years working with children, Shuttleworth, an active member of the Church of Scientology, decided to launch a campaign to teach children about human rights. YHRI began as an outreach project of the International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance, but due to its rapid expansion has formed its own non-profit, tax-exempt corporation.

A relentless campaigner for human rights for the last four decades, the Church of Scientology adopted YHRI as its international program to see that all children of the world are granted fundamental rights. The Church has sponsored the printing and distribution of over a million copies of YHRI’s educational booklet, What are Human Rights?, in 19 different languages, plus a special UNITED edition in 21 languages.

The Church is concerned that today millions do not have basic rights as outlined in the Universal Declaration for Human Rights, which forms the core of the YHRI campaign. Protecting and promoting human rights for all is an intrinsic part of the teachings of Scientology as laid out by Scientology founder and humanitarian, L. Ron Hubbard, who stated, “Human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream.”

Due to the explosive popularity of the YHRI campaign, the UNITED music video was created in 2004 as a theme song and music video for YHRI by TXL Films with the help of the Church of Scientology International. This was a project done and run by teens under the direction of 19 year old Taron Lexton. They travelled filming the video through 14 countries. It includes stars such as Isaac Hayes, Jenna Elfman and others who donated their time. UNITED was premiered at the United Nations 2004 Youth Summit and was also featured this year at the New York Film Festival.

All three of the teen leaders have witnessed and experienced first hand bullies at work and know what it can do. “I’ve seen what racism can do in my school,” said Thomson (16). “It just makes a mess of things.” They want to get the UNITED message out. “Human rights should be known and understood by everybody,” said Kerr (17. “We can do something about this planet,” added Campbell (16).

For more information or to join the Vancouver group call 604-681-9121.