A Message of Peace in a Time of Mounting Violence in the Middle East

At a time when images of bombings and death in the Middle East fill the headlines and TV screens around the world, Youth for Human Rights International visits the region with a message of peace through human rights.

Established in August 2001 as a project of the International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance, in partnership with the Church of Scientology International Human Rights Department, Youth for Human Rights International arrived in Dubai this week on the fourth week of a six-week international journey to promote the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In 1948 when the Universal Declaration was first enacted, the United Nations mandated that it be disseminated and taught in schools so that future generations could be raised with a concept of the dignity of man and the rights to which each member of the human family is entitled. Yet human rights education has not been incorporated into school curricula and 90 % of those surveyed have no knowledge of what rights are guaranteed by this document.

Although this is the third annual World Tour for the group, this is the first time Youth for Human Rights International has visited the Middle East.

With the purpose "To teach youth around the globe about Human Rights, thus helping them to become valuable advocates for the promotion of tolerance and peace," for the past three years Youth for Human Rights International has traveled around the world meeting with officials and other human rights organizations to promote human rights education, forming chapters of young people in each of the countries they visit.