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

After Fifty-eight years of adoption, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has come to life in 30 different public service announcements.

United Nations officials, embassy representatives and celebrities joined 120 youth delegates from 25 nations at an international youth summit honoring human rights heroes and featuring the world premiere of a unique new human rights education tool.

United Nations officials, representatives of embassies and celebrities joined actress Anne Archer together with 120 delegates from 25 nations at an international youth summit that honors human rights heroes. This international summit featured a unique tool that teaches people about their human rights — 30 different public service announcements for TV, each visually portraying a different article of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

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

This summit was 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 a ceremony where Anne Archer presented International Human Rights Hero awards to indiviuals who are dedicated to make human rights a fact.

The delegates at 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 public service announcements are produced by the Church of Scientology International and Youth for Human Rights International, directed by Taron Lexton, received a standing ovation from the 450 people there in attendance.

Honored with International Human Rights Hero Awards were Iranian-born Nazanin Afshim-Jam, former Miss Canada, who has now become a very prominent advocate for the rights of the disadvantaged; Joseph Jay Yaseriah, founder of the Youth for Human Rights Chapter in Liberia who grew up during the horrific genocides of the 1990s where he was twice forced to flee his own 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, the 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."

The youth delegate from Japan is shown here with Teresa Chung and Nazanin Afshim-Jam, two Human Rights Heroes awarded at the ceremony.

Joseph Jay Yaseriah, founder of the Youth for Human Rights Liberia Chapter, was awarded as a "Human Rights Hero" for his work to bring peace to his country.