Church of Scientology in Taiwan Hosts First Asian Human Rights Youth Summit
Youth delegates representing 10 nations met with Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou who welcomed the 10th annual Youth for Human Rights International World Educational Tour and first Asian Human Rights Youth Summit to his country.
The first Asian Human Rights Youth Summit, cosponsored by the 10th annual Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) World Educational Tour and the Church of Scientology in Taiwan, began March 8 with a meeting in Taipei with Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou.
President Ma welcomed youth delegates from 10 nations and YHRI President Dr. Mary Shuttleworth to his country and spoke of the importance of human rights and of his work to incorporate United Nations human rights covenants into Taiwanese domestic law.
Dr. Shuttleworth thanked the president for receiving the Youth for Human Rights delegation, explaining that Taiwan was chosen as the site of the first Asian Youth for Human Rights Summit because of the government’s support of human rights and human rights education.
Youth for Human Rights Taiwan President Simone Hsu pledged her group’s continued support of President Ma’s human rights objectives, promising to carry on their nationwide program to educate youth on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the world’s premier human rights document, with even greater vigor.
The summit then began at National Chengchi University in Taipei. The University’s International Conference Hall was filled to capacity for the opening ceremony in which youth delegates entered carrying the flags of their countries: Australia, England, India, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and the United States.
The entire three-day summit was filled with presentations and discussions where delegates shared their most successful human rights awareness activities—from teaching human rights lessons in schools to organizing street events and art competitions. Delegates attended workshops where they learned how to promote their activities and generate sponsorships and support for their programs.
Youth for Human Rights International empowers youth through educational resources that bring the subject of human rights to life. Regional summits are designed to make it possible for many youth delegates to network, learn skills and formulate plans to advance human rights education, thus forwarding the goal of full implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in their countries.
Scientologists on five continents engage in collaborative efforts with government agencies and nongovernmental organizations to bring about broad-scale awareness and implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Church of Scientology published Scientology: How We Help—United for Human Rights, Making Human Rights a Global Reality, to meet requests for more information about the human rights education and awareness initiative the Church supports. To learn more, visit Scientology.org/HumanRights.
Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “Human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream,” and the Scientology religion is based on the principles of human rights. The Code of a Scientologist calls on all members of the religion to dedicate themselves “to support true humanitarian endeavors in the fields of human rights.”