Church of Scientology San Diego

San Diego Youth Celebrate Human Rights Day with Hip-Hop Music Video

San Diego youth celebrate the 57th Anniversary of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights: (l to r) Andrew Guerrero, 21; Cecilia Cruz, 16; Ximena Mora, 14; Julianna Cruz, 19; Trey Brownlee, 8; Felicity Brownlee, 11; Clarisa Smith, 18; Raynell Little, 12; and Phillip Bryant, 4, with their “What are Human Rights?” booklets in hand ready to educate their community about human rights.

San Diego — December 10th marked the 57th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, a document written to declare the rights everyone in the entire world should have. Ximena Mora, a 14-year old from Preuss High School, conducted the human rights presentation to youth, who came together to watch the music video UNITED and learn about basic human rights and why they must know, demand and defend them.

Youth for Human Rights International and the Church of Scientology International released a 5-minute music video dealing head-on with gang violence and bullying among youths. The video, created by 19-year old Taron Lexton, was released in honor of Human Rights Day at the United Nations last year.

Entitled UNITED, the video portrays children banding together to defeat bullies in school and playground settings and even extending friendship to a gang leader. “It is a very real portrayal of things our youth are faced with today and how to apply Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” said Veronica Albano spokesperson for the Church. “That article that tells us that all people are born free and equal and we should act towards others in a spirit of brotherhood.”

After watching the UNITED music video, Clando Brownlee, youth director for United Youth Energy (UNERGY), was inspired by the human rights message and brought his group together to help forward the Youth for Human Rights educational campaign and create a better world. “Our goal is to first educate our neighborhoods, our nation, and then our world on the need to uphold the human rights of every man, woman and child,” said Brownlee. Ximena added, “It’s a great feeling to know that you’re helping people by teaching them what their human rights are, because human rights is what keeps us all together.”

The video features cameo appearances from soul legend Isaac Hayes, movie actress Erica Christensen and TV actresses Catherine Bell, Jenna Elfman and Lynsey Bartilson. Filmed in 14 countries, the video also features a multi-ethnic cast of more than 150 actors, primarily youths. Mr. Craig Mokhiber, Deputy Director, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the United Nations described the work as “brilliant and an important contribution to human rights education.”

In California, the Department of Justice estimates there are 300,000 gang members and some six thousand young people in the state are hospitalized for some form of violent injury each year. “Something can be done about this. It is important to show youth that they can be a united force for good will and bring about greater tolerance and respect,” said Albano. “This is why we want to make it available widely and invite everyone to see the music video. Humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard said, ‘Human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream.’ If we aren’t educated about our basic human rights then we won’t be able to make them a fact.”

For more information visit www.youthforhumanrights.org or www.unitedmusicvideo.org. You can also email sdyouth.for.human.rights@gmail.com to schedule a presentation.

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