One important means of developing grassroots awareness of human rights issues is through the targeted distribution of pamphlets, booklets and audio-visual aids containing educational information on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In the audio-visual field, Youth for Human Rights International produced UNITED, a street-savvy, multi-ethnic, five-minute music video that has won a dozen awards for its portrayal of how human rights and cooperative action can curb violent confrontation and intolerance. UNITED, in turn, became the inspiration for a series of 30 public service announcements (PSAs), each depicting one of the articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Harnessing modern audio-visual technology to articulate every right the UDHR grants brought praise from educators, media industry executives and human rights advocates. The first three PSAs have already aired to more than 130 million people in over 60 countries. After viewing them, a senior executive at a national TV network wrote, "As someone who reviews creative [messages] for hundreds of campaigns a year, I will say that these spots are beautifully produced and clearly articulate the message of Youth for Human Rights International."

Accompanying UNITED and the PSAs are two additional educational tools: a special UNITED edition of What Are Human Rights? and a practical workbook for teachers, the UNITED Human Rights Handbook. The Handbook, which comes complete with the above audio-visual aids, contains educational materials and proven lesson plans to raise awareness and inspire young people with the importance of human rights in their lives. First made available in late 2005, the Handbook has been used with great success by educators and teachers from the United States to New Zealand.

The widespread and sustained character of these educational actions has won the attention of leading human rights advocates, earning YHRI a letter of commendation from the United Nations Development Programme and a Certificate of Appreciation from UNICEF for "your global efforts to raise awareness of the principles set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

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