Sydney Youth Decide to Make Human Rights a Fact

January 25, 2007

	At a human rights summit held in at the New South Wales Parliament, more than 150 students learned about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and what their own responsibilities are in seeing that it is upheld.

Sydney - Calling on Australia to play a more active role in establishing human rights at home and around the world, the Sydney Chapter of Youth for Human Rights International held a youth summit where local students gained a greater understanding of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and their responsibilities as citizens to ensure it is honoured.

Held at the New South Wales Parliament, the event was attended by 170 student, teachers, officials and community leaders, filling the hall to capacity.

Guest speakers included the Honourable David Clarke, a senior Parliamentarian of the NSW Parliament, Mr. Graeme Innes, the Australian Human Rights Commissioner and the Honourable Charlie Lynn, the Shadow Minister for Sport. Australia’s own Kate Ceberano sang a selection of songs that inspired the students to take an active role as human rights advocates.

Students watched several public service announcements, produced by the Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology International for Youth for Human Rights International, which depict the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These short films are designed to make human rights completely understandable to people of all ages and backgrounds.

	Held at the New South Wales Parliament, the event, produced by the Sydney chapter of Youth for Human Rights International brought students, teachers, officials and community leaders together with a common purpose – to make Human Rights a fact.

But the students were not just an audience at this event. Rather they were active participants, discussing controversial human rights issues and drawing up action plans of what they will do now to increase awareness and implementation of human rights in their areas.

Finally, Ms. Ceberano presented the Hon. David Clarke with a petition containing 16,500 signatures of Australian youth, asking for human rights education to be mandated throughout New South Wales, and for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to be implemented in full in the state.

Youth for Human Rights International is an outreach program of the International Foundation of Human Rights and Tolerance, a non-profit organization located in Los Angeles.

L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion, once wrote “Human Rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream.” The members of the Sydney chapter of Youth for Human Rights International have shown through their actions that they have every intention of bringing this about.