September 3, 2006

Historic Audio-Visual Presentation of World's Foremost Human Rights Charter Released at United Nations

Fifty-eight years after adoption, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights comes to life in 30 public service announcements.

United Nations officials, embassy representatives and celebrities joined actress Anne Archer and 120 delegates from 25 nations at an international youth summit honoring human rights heroes. This event featured a unique new teaching tool — 30 public service announcements for TV, each portraying a different article of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The "Summit on Making Human Rights a Global Reality", held in Assembly Room One at the United Nations headquarters in New York, drew human rights activists from countries including the United States, Britain, France, Uganda, Liberia, Egypt, Nepal, Guyana, Colombia and Mexico.

Organized by the Church of Scientology International in coordination with Youth for Human Rights International and the International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance, the event also featured the presentation of International Human Rights Hero awards at a ceremony MC'd by Anne Archer.

Delegates to the summit were welcomed by Mr. Enzo di Taranto of "United Nations Action Two" and Mr. Hans Janischek, President of the United Nations Society of Writers.

The new PSAs, produced by the Church of Scientology International and Youth for Human Rights International and directed by 22-year-old Taron Lexton received a standing ovation from the 450 attendees.

Honored with International Human Rights Hero Awards were Iranian-born Nazanin Afshim-Jam, a former Miss Canada who has become a prominent advocate for the rights of the disadvantaged; Joseph Jay Yaseriah, founder of the Youth for Human Rights Liberia Chapter who grew up during the horrific genocides of the 1990s and was twice forced to flee his country before returning to bring reconciliation and reconstruction to his fellow Liberians; Luse Berking, a native Samoan who works with at-risk youth in New Zealand; Chinese-born Teresa Chung, a writer and advocate for women's rights; and Maxim Weithers who campaigns for human rights education in Canada.

"L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Scientology religion, stressed the importance of human rights, writing: 'Human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream,' said Leisa Goodman, Human Rights Director of the Church of Scientology International. "With the tremendous popularity of these PSAs, the work of Human Rights Heroes such as those who were awarded here today and the grassroots movement to implement human rights education for all youth around the world gaining such momentum, we know we will make this 'dream' come true."