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

Fifty-eight years after adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 30 PSAs bring them to life.

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

United Nations officials, embassy representatives and celebrities all joined actress Anne Archer and 120 delegates from 25 nations at an international youth summit honoring human rights heroes. This event featured a unique new teaching tool — 30 public service announcements for TV, each 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 Assembly Room One at the United Nations headquarters in New York. This event drew human rights activists from countries including the United States, Britain, France, Uganda, Liberia, Egypt, Nepal, Guyana, Colombia and Mexico.

Organized by the Church of Scientology International in coordination with Youth for Human Rights International and the International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance, this event also featured the presentation of International Human Rights Hero awards presented by Anne Archer.

Delegates of the summit were welcomed by Mr. Enzo di Taranto from the "United Nations Action Two" and Mr. Hans Janischek, President of the United Nations Society of Writers.

The new PSAs, produced by the Church of Scientology International and Youth for Human Rights International and directed by 22-year-old Taron Lexton, received a standing ovation from the 450 people in attendance.

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

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

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

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