Scientology: How We Help—Jamaican Expat Brings Human Rights Home

David Chen returned to visit his native Jamaica from London in February 2013 with a burning desire to empower his countrymen by educating them on the importance of preserving and protecting human rights. Chen arrived to join the 10th annual Youth for Human Rights International World Educational Tour.

Chen has been living in the United Kingdom and his visit home is part an effort to bring tools to help develop Jamaica. Key to that goal is educating government officials, educators and nongovernmental organizations about the importance of protecting human rights. He joined forces with Youth for Human Rights, a human rights awareness initiative supported by the Church of Scientology that promotes the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through education.

One of the most prevalent and urgent human rights issues in Jamaica is human trafficking. The country is a source and transit point for adults and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor throughout the Caribbean, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates traffickers make $32 billion annually internationally with some 27 million people enslaved worldwide.

The U.S. Department of Justice reports that 12 is the average age of children forced into pornography and prostitution in the United States. DePaul University International Human Rights Law Institute estimates 30,000 who are trafficked into sexual slavery die each year from abuse, torture, neglect and disease.

Chen hopes to bring an end to human trafficking by raising public awareness of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and urging government, religious and civic leaders to implement real solutions in Jamaica.

Chen’s visit to Jamaica was timed with the arrival of the Youth for Human Rights International World Educational Tour in the country. Working with Dr. Mary Shuttleworth, the group’s president, Chen brought the program to the attention of government, religious and educational leaders throughout the country, including representatives of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth and Culture, the Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Prime Minister.

The Tour also visited churches and schools throughout the country, including Assembly Hall Church, which Chen attended as a young boy.

Youth for Human Rights International World Educational Tours meet with leaders in countries around the world who have the power and vision to accomplish the purpose of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The preamble of the Declaration proclaims that all peoples and nations should “strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance….” The Church of Scientology has published the brochure 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 it 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.”