CHURCHES OF SCIENTOLOGY AND YOUTH FOR HUMAN RIGHTS TEAM UP FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

The Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology International and the non-profit organization Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) have teamed up to educate the population about human rights by holding “International Human Rights Sign-a-thon Weekends,” across the world where almost 67,000 signatures have been collected already, on a petition to promote the implementation of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Church and YHRI are working together for the promotion of this Declaration. Created in 1948, this is a document that is little known and rarely applied, yet almost every nation of the world has signed onto it.

“We want to raise awareness with this petition so we held our first ‘Sign-a-thon Weekend’ and were surprised and pleased with the great interest people had to learn more about this declaration, which is why we have continued to hold more ‘Sign-a-thon Weekends’” said Leisa Goodman, Human Rights Director for the Church of Scientology International.

The “Sign-a-thon” is a grass roots activity to get citizens everywhere signing onto the petition and showing their support. Teaming up with like-minded groups and organizations, Churches of Scientology around the world are participating.

Another phase of this campaign is creating awareness about the Universal Declaration through a series of human rights public service announcements (PSAs) of the 30 articles of the Declaration. Three have been released and are now airing internationally including Germany, Japan, the USA, Canada, Colombia and Russia, on stations which include CCN International. They have been translated into 15 languages.

“The purpose of Youth for Human Rights is to teach youth around the world about human rights to help them become valuable advocates for tolerance and peace, which is why these PSAs are so important. They educate youth in a simple and fun way that young TV watchers can appreciate,” stated Mary Shuttleworth, President of YHRI.

To view the first three PSAs or to read and sign onto the petition visit YHRI’s website at www.youthforhumanrights.org.