December 27th, 2004

As we celebrate the beginning of the New Year it is appropriate to share with you some of the accomplishments Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) made possible with your valuable support. With chapters springing up in 52 countries, numerous Hollywood celebrities lending their support, and national leaders vocally advocating its programs, Youth for Human Rights International has certainly enjoyed its greatest-ever expansion over the past 12 months. It is with great pride that we reflect on the lives touched and enriched, and goals fulfilled. The purpose of Youth for Human Rights International is to teach youth around the world about human rights and inspire them to take action.

The YHRI World Educational Tour 2004 literally circumnavigated the globe, moving through 13 countries in 5 continents, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Nepal, Zambia, South Africa, Ghana, Venezuela, Guyana and Mexico. We met with human rights officials, ministers of education, religious leaders, local and national media, and most importantly children—in schools, groups, orphanages, universities, etc. Over the course of this 45,000 mile expedition, we reached more than 67 million people.

Youth delegates from countries including Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Guyana, Palestine, India, Israel, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the USA participated in the YHRI International Youth Summit at the United Nations headquarters and UNICEF in New York. There they were able to speak candidly in an open forum that included UN Ambassadors, high-ranking officials and political and religious leaders.

The Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn proclaimed October 1st, 2004 as Youth for Human Rights Day for the City of Los Angeles. Over 600 school children, educators, political and religious leaders celebrated on the steps of City Hall. The YHRI Youth Summit followed inside City Hall where students from eight schools held a forum on human rights issues and their solutions.

Our most recent project is a hip-hop music video called UNITED, directed by 19-year-old Taron Lexton. Over 2,000 people volunteered their talent, time, space, equipment, financial and moral support to facilitate this production. UNITED premiered inside the United Nations headquarters in New York City at the end of August. Featuring appearances by the likes of Isaac Hayes (South Park), Jenna Elfman (Ed TV), Erika Christensen (Traffic), and Lynsey Bartilson (Grounded for Life), UNITED is quickly becoming a global grass-roots sensation. Since its release, it has screened at film festivals such as the Echo Park Human Rights Film Festival. The video has been screened at numerous events and schools in countries such as Italy, Canada, Czech Republic, Brussels and Australia before political leaders, religious leaders, educators, First Ladies, Presidents and even Kings. In addition, United Nations Deputy Director of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Craig Mokhiber proclaimed it “brilliant. An important contribution to human rights education.”

The video is now available in 15 languages. UNITED has aired on international TV stations such as Tinseltown TV, PARS TV, and national TV stations such as “Atout C UR” in the south of France and the Czech National Radio Nr3, and National Music TV Ocko. The first in a series of UNITED Public Service Announcements (PSA’s) is scheduled to air in 2005 in the USA on TV stations including Warner Brothers. In November the music video, UNITED, went up on the YHRI website. Subsequently the number of visitors to the website increased drastically reaching the highest ever of 13,950 in a single month.

Last but not least, the YHRI illustrated children’s booklet, “What are Human Rights?” which simplifies the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, continues to be an international success. The booklet has now been published in 19 languages, and tens of thousands of copies have been distributed to children on five continents. It is currently being translated into many more languages.

I would like to thank all who made this expansion possible. Our expansion relies on volunteers, donations and collaborations with like-minded groups. Special acknowledgement goes to TXL Films, SLSI and the Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology International who contributed a great deal to this outstanding success. With your support, children around the world will continue to gain a better understanding of their basic human rights and learn that with those rights come responsibilities to care for the rights of others.

Wishing you a productive and successful 2005!

Kind Regards,

Mary Shuttleworth
Director