International Day of Peace Celebrates Diversity

Dozens of faiths and beliefs joined forces in a Peace Day celebration at the Church of Scientology of Melbourne.

The Church of Scientology of Melbourne hosted a UN International Peace Day Celebration September 20, organized by the Melbourne chapter of Youth for Human Rights International in partnership with COMMON (Centre of Melbourne Multifaith & Others Network), WIN (Women’s Interfaith Network), Melton Interfaith Network, the City of Melton and the Casey Multifaith Network.

More than 200 guests representing diverse religious, interfaith and human rights groups attended.

The program began with Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Ian Hunter who acknowledged his ancestors—the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, the original inhabitants of the land.

The theme of the program was diversity and the richness and texture of Melbourne culture from people of hundreds of different backgrounds, faiths and beliefs in the city.

According to the Victoria State Government, people from more than 200 countries call Victoria home. Some 230 languages and dialects are spoken. Nearly half the population immigrated to the country or have a parent born overseas.

What’s more, Indigenous Australia represents the world’s oldest living cultural history, extending back 50-65,000 years.

Australians from dozens of backgrounds attended the program including representatives of the Asian nations of India, Sri Lanka, China, Pakistan, Bhutan and Nepal. From Europe came people from Scotland, England, Malta, Italy, Ireland and Holland. And there were African attendees from Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia.

The coordinator of the Victoria chapter of Youth for Human Rights International welcomed the guests and introduced them to her group’s human rights education initiative.

Thousands of teachers use the group’s award-winning educational materials in Australian schools with the support of the Church of Scientology. The chapter is working to grow these numbers to ensure that every child in every school in the nation is educated on the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Church’s Deputy Executive Director presented the Church’s 2016 Power of Peace Awards to 25 interfaith, religious, cultural and community leaders who are creating positive social change.

While their parents enjoyed the speeches and entertainment, the children of those attending participated in a Peace Day art workshop where they were encouraged to create drawings to represent the purpose of the day. They displayed their art from the stage at the end of the program.

The Church of Scientology and Scientologists support Youth for Human Rights. The group’s award-winning educational materials are translated into 27 languages.