But more shocking is the fact that homicide is the leading cause of death for African Americans and the second leading cause of death for Hispanics for youth in this age group. But the effects of youth violence is in no means restricted to any one group of people, as The Center for Disease Control estimates the cost of youth violence exceeds $158 billion each year in the USA.

Youth for Human Rights Florida joined other groups at the “Stop The Violence” Back to School Rally, presented by People Against Violence Enterprises. The message was the necessity to stop the violence, with a focus on gang violence through education and communities working together. Youth for Human Rights Florida addresses the reduction of violence through simply educating youth on our 30 human rights, according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, through entertaining youth-oriented DVDs.

Often youth talk about “having rights,” but the Youth for Human Rights program gets them to not only know their 30 human rights, but to see that others have rights too, which is key to reducing violent acts and crimes.