Hon Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and YHRI meet Senator Hon Mark Golding, Ministry of Justice

Feb. 12, 2013 - PRLog -- Jamaican born, Mr. David Chen, a Freelance Broadcast Journalist, TV Host, and Jamaica Travel Specialist, welcomed the 10th Youth for Human Rights World Educational Tour 2013 to Jamaica on Thursday, February 7th, 2013, in honor of the United Nations International Youth Day.

The team walked in the footsteps of slavery at the hot mineral Bath Fountain. They celebrated the birthday of The Legend, Bob Marley. Traversed the island from east to west doing a number of presentations, including churches, schools and participated in groundbreaking ceremony of a youth center in Moneague. In Kingston meetings included dignitaries and political officials. Honourable Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller arranged for an official meeting with Senator the Honourable Mark Golding, Ministry of Justice.

Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) is a non-profit corporation founded in 2001 in Los Angeles. The purpose of YHRI is to teach youth about human rights, specifically the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and inspire them to become advocates for tolerance and peace.

Half of the world’s population is under 25. The challenges they face are steep. They are hardest hit by the world’s inequalities and injustices. Too many live in poverty, unable to realize their potential. Too few are gaining the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to find employment in rapidly changing job markets, where the capacity to learn and adapt is essential. (UNESCO, 2012)

To help address these issues, YHRI has produced easy-to-understand materials to teach the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights including the YHRI Educators handbook, the multiple award winning music video, UNITED, and other materials for human rights education. YHRI audiovisual materials have reached more than 500 million around the world in more than 20 languages.

Nobel Peace Laureate, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, who wrote: “The YHRI materials are easy to understand, easy to use and an excellent tool for Human Rights Education because the lessons are already prepared and easy to implement in both the formal and informal sectors.”

Mary Shuttleworth, Ed.D., founder of YHRI, has pursued this purpose by collaborating with like-minded individuals, groups and organizations, both locally and throughout the world. As a result, YHRI has expanded to hundreds of affiliated clubs and groups in countries around the world.

Following her belief in the importance of meeting with people in their own countries to observe the issues and challenges that they face and to encourage their efforts, Dr. Shuttleworth has circled the globe each year since 2004, visiting some 80 countries and meeting with youth, educators, and various dignitaries, including kings, heads of government and officials of the United Nations and Commonwealth of Nations. Delegates from around the world have attended YHRI-sponsored summits in Brussels, Geneva, Los Angeles and New York including meetings at UNICEF and the United Nations. YHRI is a member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, where Dr. Shuttleworth has been a featured speaker. Her media coverage includes local, national and international appearances in print as well as radio and television.

This year the 10th World Educational Tour 2013, are circling the globe to countries including India, Jamaica, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan and the USA.

Mr. Chen explained, “being an Ambassador for Human Rights and Peace now for over 6 years – it was a pleasure to bring that same positive energy to my place of birth, Jamaica.  I’m extremely honoured to be apart of this world tour, considering that – after we have visited and presented to educational, sports and the political inclined others.  It’s a fact that to teach and highlight Human Rights in schools is extremely important, for the simple fact that while many people conceptually knew about Human Rights, not many people knew what their Human Rights are.”  Mr. Chen expressed that he will continue with the project with the possibility to highlight the basic human rights message with the project plan to organize events within various communities to take the Human Rights Campaign to the next level.

Jamaica is part of the 45,224-mile journey promoting Human Rights Education around the world.