Scientology Churches call for end to discrimination on Human Rights Day
More good works in promoting human rights:
Thousands of youth in more than 40 nations, representing Scientology Churches and Youth for Human Rights International chapters, organized and participated in Human Rights Walks, educational forums and interactive seminars December 10 in observance of the 62nd anniversary of ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Centered on “Speak Up, Stop Discrimination” which is this year’s United Nations theme for Human Rights Day, events ran the gamut from a forum on human trafficking in Pasadena, California, to Walks for Human Rights in over 30 countries to seminars on basic human rights in Pakistan.
And meeting with great success in Mexico:
Morrow pointed to the State of Chiapas in Mexico as an example of what can be accomplished. When a national survey by the Secretary of Education of Mexico found that 50 percent of high school students in Chiapas admitted to discriminating against others in school, the government decided to take effective action on the issue and with information provided by Youth for Human Rights of Mexico, ratified a change to their constitution to include the full 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and make human rights education in school mandatory.
Petition calls for mandatory human rights education
This is an effort worthy of support, from Scientologists and non-Scientologists alike:
Churches of Scientology in 14 countries joined forces with Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) last week conducting a global petition drive in support of human rights education. Based on the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the petition calls on governments to make human rights education mandatory and to conduct human rights education campaigns. The Declaration was ratified by the UN General Assembly in 1948 and defines the fundamental freedoms and human rights in the United Nations Charter. Since that time it has influenced national constitutions, treaties, laws, and human rights institutions the world over.
“The Universal Declaration does more than condemn discrimination, slavery and torture,” said Rev. Bob Adams, spokesperson for the Church of Scientology International. “Unfortunately, most people are unaware of the full scope of these rights and so have no way of knowing when these rights are violated. It’s not something only for governments to care for—we all have an interest in these rights.”
Scientologists, their families and friends took to busy street corners, festivals and shopping centers and city squares, where they presented booklets and videos, engaged in human rights discussions and gained support for the cause on giant petition boards. Active on many fronts of human rights initiatives and reform for five decades, the Church sponsors a worldwide human rights initiative to raise awareness and respect for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This includes distribution of millions of booklets and the airing of 30 public service messages, both based on the Declaration’s articles. In 2009, the Church sponsored the production of a new educational film, The Story of Human Rights, a 20-minute entertaining and historical account of the development of human rights, and a new human rights educators kit. To date, these materials have reached over 500 million people in 180 countries.
“The Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes the inherent dignity and rights of all members of the human family as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace,” said Rev. Adams. “The world needs a lot more people knowing it and supporting it.”
It will be a triumph for humanity when human rights are taught to all children as part of standard educational curricula.
Source: meetascientologist.org
