Metro Hall Welcomes Human Rights Celebration
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Toronto, 10 December 2006: Youth for Human Rights Canada along with the City of Toronto sponsored a special event marking Human Rights Day in Toronto. The afternoon commemoration held at Metro Hall on Sunday had twenty human rights groups involved including the Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology. Singer/song writer and YHRI national spokesperson Sarah Melody hosted the afternoon and former Toronto Argonaut Orlando Bowen along with prominent Toronto human rights activist Charles Roach provided keynote addressses. Montreal's The Sound of Reason provided entertainment with their inspirational human rights lyrics.
Toronto City Councillor Joe Mihevic represented the City of Toronto and Mayor David Miller proclaimed December 10th Human Rights Day in Toronto.
The
proclamation reads:
"WHEREAS on December 10, 1948, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to recognize the inherent dignity and equal and intrinsic rights of all peoples, and at this time every year, the City of Toronto pays tribute to these principles.
"The City of Toronto joins community groups and institutions in Toronto as we work together toward the empowerment of vulnerable communities and the achievement of a civil society though the elimination of poverty, violence, racism, sexism, homophobia, homelessness, hate crimes, hunger, illiteracy and all barriers to the fulfilment of human rights.
"The City of Toronto continues to take a leadership role in the fight for the elimination of all forms of discrimination and disadvantage to ensure that everyone has the right to live in conditions of dignity, respect and peace.
"NOW THEREFORE, I, Mayor David Miller, on behalf of Toronto City Council, do hereby proclaim December 2006 as "Human Rights Month" and December 10, 2006 as “Human Rights Day” in the City of Toronto."
Journée Internationale des Droits de l'Homme in Quebec
Friday, December 15, 2006
Quebec, 10 December 2006: Journée Internationale des Droits de l'Homme was marked by a special event held by the Association Youth for Human Rights of Quebec at 655 Rue St. Joseph in downtown Quebec. Special guests included Marianne Fortier, star of the popular Quebec film "Aurore," Martine Gagné of UNICEF-Québec, Israël Almendras from Chile who spoke about torture under the Pinochet regime, and Grand Chief Max Gros-Louis of the Huronne-Wendat nation. Elyse Lebel of the Association was the host for the afternoon along with Johanne Plourde of the Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology.
The keynote speaker, Marianne Fortier, spoke about her performance in the film "Aurore" and how human rights are very often violated especially with children. Grand Chief Gros-Louis addressed the continuing discrimination of the First Nations in Canada and how it is still a pressing problem in our country.
The Association presented throughout the afternoon each of the 30 human rights public service announcements produced by Youth for Human Rights International and the Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Entertainment was provided by the youth members of the Association who did an original dance number for the audience and Fannie Côté, a professional dancer specializing in jazz.
Human Rights Day Celebrated in Vancouver Church
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Vancouver, 11 December 2006: The Youth for Human Rights International B.C. Chapter held an event tomark the 58th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Rights. Reverend Susan Kerr, Human Rights Director for the Church of Scientology hosted the evening at the Scientology church. Guests included church members and religious leaders from other faiths and Students for Darfur.
Rev. Kerr briefed on the Youth for Human Rights program and what this means to everyone. Sharon Werner read a message on human rights published by Prime Minister Harper on December 10th. Keynote speaker, Clement Apaak, chairman for the Canadian Students for Darfur and president of the Student Council for Simon Fraser University 2005/2006, talked about his history in Ghana where he was raised and howhe became an advocate for the peoples of Darfur. He is committed to installing human rights not only into the Sudanese area, but to all people.The Youth for Human Rights presented a "Hero Award" to Apaak for his tireless work on human rights for Darfur. They also presented him with a donation to Oxfam to be used for Darfur. Apaak was surprised and honoured to receive this award and vowed to continue with the cause.
Estelle Brown, Chapter leader in the Vancouver area briefed the crowd on actions she is doing in the high schools and how excited the teachers are to use the YHRI tools. The YHRI Public Service Announcements were shown followed by the"United" music video.
The evening was a success with funds raised for Darfur and guests coming forward with ideas on how to make human rights a reality for everyone.
Vancouver Human Rights Day Vigil for Darfur
Vancouver, 10 December 2006: United Nations Human Rights Day in Vancouver was marked by a special human rights vigil held at Simon Fraser University's downtown campus. The vigil focused on the continuing tragedy of genocide in the Darfur region of the Sudan in Africa. A series of human rights experts, including Reverend Susan Kerr of the Church of Scientology, spoke on the deadly challenge of Darfur which was highlighted by an emotion-packed slide show depicting the rape and brutilization of women and children in the area. A moment of silence with candlelight was held.
The vigil was organized by Clement Apaack, president for the Canadian Students for Darfur and Student Council president for Simon Fraser University.
In her speech, Reverend Kerr reminded the audience that Sunday marked the 58th anniversary of the 1948 signing of Universal Declaration of Rights by the member states of the United Nations. The thirty articles of the Declaration, she said, are not being promoted nor enforced in any meaningful way in many areas of the world and that this leads to atrocities such as Darfur. Kerr urged the participants to take action by writing to government, donating to Oxfam and spreading the word.
Following her speech, the award-winning human rights music video "United" played along with one of the human rights public service announcements produced by Youth for Human Rights International with the assistance of the Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology International.
Ottawa Interfaith panel marks 25th Anniversary of UN Declaration
Ottawa, 25 November 2006: The Ottawa Bahai Centre on Saturday hosted the Capital Region Interfaith Council's (CRIC) interfaith forum on the need for religious tolerance. The forum was organized to mark the 25th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance.
The forum included participants from many faith traditions: Anglican, Baha'i Faith, Buddhist Faith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, First Church of Christ, Scientist, Hinduism, Islam, Jewish Faith, Jain Faith, The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Scientology, Sikh, The United Church of Canada. Panel discussions along with question and answer periods highlighted how various faiths interacted and how they felt religious intolerance should be eliminated world-wide.
Reverend Cathie Mann, representing the Church of Scientology, spoke about the need for human rights education on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the solution for human rights problems.
The tremendous importance of this almost neglected document was recognized in the media release sent out by CRIC. "Over fifty years ago, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights boldly proclaimed the inherent dignity and the equal rights of all members of the human family. Guided by the vision of equality for all, the Declaration enshrined the fundamental right of every human being to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. Despite the international community's unanimous adoption of this Declaration and its codification in subsequent instruments of international law, the world bears witness to persistent intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief, the proliferation of violence in the name of religion, the manipulation of religion in the interest of political ideology, and increasing tensions between religion and State policies...
"The freedom to hold beliefs of one's choosing and to change them is central to human development as it makes possible the individual's search for meaning -- a distinguishing impulse of the human conscience." (Freedom to Believe: Upholding the Standard of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)"
For more information on human rights and the Church of Scientology in Ottawa, contact
Cathie Mann.
Know Your Human Rights