Visual Voices for Social Causes
Chad Andro | 09.08.2010 20:42 | Social Struggles
United Nations photo exhibit entitled “Visual Voices – Youth perspectives on Global Issues” will be inaugurated in the United Nations visitors lobby to celebrate International Youth Day. Youth responded to the question, “What innovative activities have you participated in for social causes?”
Carrying a message that all youth have rights, Youth for Human Rights Florida President, Dustin McGahee, became a “Visual Voice” as he shared how he worked with other youth from around the world to create the “International Walk for Human Rights”, with thousands walking in more than 20 countries on United Nations Human Rights Day 2009. Telling youth they not only have Freedom of Thought, Freedom of Speech, and the Right to Education, but they also have rights people may be aware of such as the Right to Play. In all, there are 30 rights as written in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The World Programme of Action for Youth, adopted by the General Assembly in 1995, outlined the top ten priorities as education, employment, hunger and poverty, health, environment, drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, leisure-time activities, girls and young women and participation. In 2007 this list got extended to also include globalization, information and communication technologies, HIV/AIDS, youth and conflict and intergenerational relations. Youth for Human Rights Florida focuses on many of these issues. For example, “youth and conflict” is being addressed in schools with the education of Human Rights. Students learn that they not only have rights, but also, it is important to respect the rights of others to resolve conflicts.
Youth for Human Rights Florida is a secular non-profit organization with the mission to educate about Human Rights both in and out of the classroom. The uniqueness of the program lies in the educational materials created in collaboration with the Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology International. Its founder L. Ron Hubbard in fact stated: “Human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream”. Their educational materials include youth-designed video of the 30 Human Rights according to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, along with a documentary, “The Story of Human Rights”, booklets and an educator’s guide.
For more information go to: www.youthforhumanrights.org
The World Programme of Action for Youth, adopted by the General Assembly in 1995, outlined the top ten priorities as education, employment, hunger and poverty, health, environment, drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, leisure-time activities, girls and young women and participation. In 2007 this list got extended to also include globalization, information and communication technologies, HIV/AIDS, youth and conflict and intergenerational relations. Youth for Human Rights Florida focuses on many of these issues. For example, “youth and conflict” is being addressed in schools with the education of Human Rights. Students learn that they not only have rights, but also, it is important to respect the rights of others to resolve conflicts.
Youth for Human Rights Florida is a secular non-profit organization with the mission to educate about Human Rights both in and out of the classroom. The uniqueness of the program lies in the educational materials created in collaboration with the Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology International. Its founder L. Ron Hubbard in fact stated: “Human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream”. Their educational materials include youth-designed video of the 30 Human Rights according to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, along with a documentary, “The Story of Human Rights”, booklets and an educator’s guide.
For more information go to: www.youthforhumanrights.org
Chad Andro
