These were the numbers on paper for those who were not there. But being there gave a different number: One. Under one roof, there was one group, one purpose, and one race; the human race, without discrimination.
Delegate Dustin McGahee of Youth for Human Rights Florida represented the United States. Speaking among an impressive roster of international ambassadors, academic and religious leaders, he pointed to the vital necessity of improving human rights worldwide, in developed as well as underdeveloped countries. Just 18 years of age, McGahee moved the audience with his speech, reminding representatives from around the world that, “What you do in the near future determines whether entire societies will live under darkness and suppression, or if they will thrive with a life full of Human Rights.”
McGahee’s strong desire to improve conditions in the world is the reason he works to educate others about human rights, but he became an active human rights advocate when he learned that an international sex slave ring was busted just minutes from his comfortable suburban home. Although most people see human rights violations as problems in third-world countries, all countries throughout the world are confronted with human rights violations day to day, despite their economic level. In fact, McGahee reminds us that many of today’s social problems such as hate crimes stem from violations of Human Right #2 “Don’t Discriminate” and Human Right #18 “Freedom of Thought.”
As humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard stated, "Human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream". And the tool to resolve human rights violations is The Universal Declaration of Human Rights created in 1948 by the United Nations. Today, the purpose of Youth for Human Rights is to educate youth about human rights, in and out of the classroom.
During the second day of the International Summit, the youth came together in a workshop to share innovative techniques they had used to promote human rights outside the classroom. McGahee uses his creative writing, including several published, smooth-flowing poems, to get the point across about the importance of human rights. Niki Lanik from the United Kingdom races cars internationally telling his race car fans everywhere about human rights education, and Sarah Melody tours throughout Canada using her powerful singing to promote the cause.
Youth delegates were represented from Austria, Canada, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, India, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Vietnam, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Barbados, Switzerland, The United Kingdom and The United States of America.
From the deserts of Nigeria, to the tropics of India, to the icy vastness of Canada, to the warm beaches of Florida, delegates gathered in from every corner of the globe. McGahee summed up the importance of the event by saying, “You hear so often that the youth of the next generation will bring about the next change. We are those youth.”
Do you know all thirty of your human rights? If not, and you want to know what they are, go to www.youthforhumanrights.org.