The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development was observed this weekend as young adults of different cultures, religions and nationalities came together to focus on their unity to help, and not on their differences.

One group, Youth for Human Rights Florida, enhances dialogue by helping others to understand their human rights through the education of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in youth-oriented booklets and DVDs.

The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is often observed in countries that are composed of a varieties cultural backgrounds and histories, as this day acknowledges the importance of these different ways of life.  The United States of America is truly a country of diversity.

According to the United Nations, the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity in Paris, France, on November 2, 2001. It was the 249th resolution adopted at the 57th session of the United Nations General Conference. Although the declaration was the culmination of years of work, it was adopted in the wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. This reaffirmed the need for intercultural dialogue to prevent segregation and fundamentalism.

The United Nations proclaimed 2002 as the Year for Cultural Heritage. At the end of that year, on December 20, 2002, the General Assembly of the United Nations declared May 21 to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.
 

This ties in with Human Rights Day 2009 the United Nations advocated “Embrace Diversity – End Discrimination” and to continue to do so throughout 2010. On Human Rights Day Youth for Human Rights Florida joined other Youth for Human Rights groups around the world in the first annual “International Walk for Human Rights” to raise awareness of the need for all to demand their rights and to respect the rights of others.

As the UN promotes diversity, Youth for Human Rights Florida is working to get the Universal Declaration of Human Rights taught in schools throughout Florida, and beyond. The youth president, Dustin McGahee, discusses the importance of teaching human rights in schools. “Human Rights must be taught in schools. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was created in 1948 with and stated these rights are to be taught in schools as a solution to peace, but 61 years later they are still not a required curriculum.”  McGahee became involved in educating others of their human rights as he is inspired to action by the words of humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard, “Human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream.”

Youth for Human Rights Florida educates people of all ages about their human rights, both in and out of the classroom. There are many ways to learn about human rights, but Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) a non-profit, secular organization founded in 2001 by educator Dr. Mary Shuttleworth, created an easy to understand video of each of the human rights designed for youth. In less than a minute the youth can learn one of their human rights. There is also a teacher’s guide for those educators. For more information on Youth for Human Rights and free DVD downloads on the 30 human rights go: www.youthforhumanrights.org.

To contact Youth for Human Rights Florida contact: dustin@youthforhumanrightsflorida.org

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