Scientology: How We Help—Strengthening Human Rights Alliances in Mexico
Youth for Human Rights International began its 10th annual human rights world educational tour with a week of meetings, training sessions and conferences, coordinating with human rights advocates in Mexico to tackle that nation’s major issues. The Youth for Human Rights initiative is supported by the Church of Scientology
The 10th annual Youth for Human Rights World Educational Tour returned to Mexico to bolster human rights advances that have taken place since the group’s initial visit there in 2004, and to forge new partnerships to make inroads against the serious abuses that continue to plague the country.
Major strides have taken place over the past 10 years. Through its work with legislators and human rights groups, Youth for Human Rights Mexico was instrumental in the incorporation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) being incorporated into the nation’s constitution. But human rights abuses in the country are rife: an estimated 101,000 people were murdered in Mexico over the past six years. According to the U.S. State Department Trafficking in Persons Report 2012, Mexico is “a large source, transit, and destination country for men, women and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor.” Abject poverty affects more than 11 percent of the nation’s population.
Youth for Human Rights promotes awareness of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the first step in ensuring the rights laid out in the document are available to all men, women and children. In Mexico January 31-February 8, 2013, the Youth for Human Rights World Educational Tour met with a representative of the nation’s Supreme Court, members of congress, indigenous leaders and anti-trafficking and other human rights groups. The meetings addressed implementing human rights education in schools and communities, including a public awareness campaign aimed at youth who run away from home, as runaways are often the target of human traffickers. The Youth for Human Rights International World Educational Tour also conducted a human rights seminar for some 1,200 police officers and four commanders in Tlalnepantla, Mexico, a city north of Mexico City. They met with Scouting officials to discuss ways to implement human rights education and with representatives of the indigenous community to address concerns about their social and cultural rights. The World Tour also promoted human rights awareness and education on radio and television programs. Through 10 annual Youth for Human Rights World Educational Tours, Dr. Mary Shuttleworth, President of Youth for Human Rights International, has met 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 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.”