HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION
ENCIRCLING THE GLOBE

A basic premise of human rights is that they are for everyone. Thus, regardless of economic or cultural background, any individual, by participating in these programmes, can galvanise popular support for human rights and human rights education in their own community, city or country.

To inspire individuals to stand up for human rights, and to ensure this message is heard in today’s world of turmoil and conflict, the Church-sponsored programme takes a unique approach reaching people through awareness events that engage them in personal participation.

International Summits

Each year the Church’s Human Rights department and Youth for Human Rights International co-sponsor an International Human Rights Summit. Young delegates from around the world are selected to represent their nation.

At the summit, advocates profile human rights issues in their countries and discuss with other delegates how to bring about widespread education in the field. Delegates then return home and expand their activities to further promote human rights in their own areas.

At the 2009 summit in Geneva, Switzerland, the seat of United Nations human rights institutions, youth delegates conceived an “International Walk for Human Rights” that resulted in Youth for Human Rights walks in Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, Russia, Canada, the United States and elsewhere.

Each year, the summit inspires more walks and now counts over 10,000 participants annually across more than 80 nations.

Marathons, dances, mural-paintings and petition-signings are a few of the many activities that can raise public awareness of human rights.

In such ways, the annual human rights summit both galvanises actions promoting human rights and raises public awareness of their importance.

Youth for Human Rights International World Educational Tours

Since 2004, Youth for Human Rights International has conducted an annual World Tour, presenting the programme to national leaders and encouraging governments and nongovernmental organisations to partner in projects.

In total, the World Tour has travelled over 385,000 miles across 70 nations, reaching over 10 million people. In the process, YHRI has formed alliances, created new chapters and appointed Ambassadors of Human Rights who in turn disseminate the message further. Churches of Scientology around the world often assist in hosting the tour and supporting its actions to inspire leaders in their areas.

The 2011 World Tour crossed 25,000 miles through Bangladesh, Belgium, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Thailand and United Nations headquarters in New York, bringing word of human rights to more than 350,000 individuals.

The 2012 World Tour travelled 28,000 miles through Cameroon, Ethiopia, Japan, Liberia, Mexico, Taiwan, Togo and the United States in honour of the United Nations literacy decade.

Each year the World Tour adds new nations to its itinerary, thereby educating still more to their inalienable birthright.