To teach human rights to youth around the globe so they become valuable advocates for tolerance and peace.
Youth for Human Rights International was formed as it was realized that very little is being done to teach human rights to young people. YHRI brings the United Nations Universal Declaration for Human Rights to youth through essay and art contests and by providing materials for students and teaching guides for schools.
Educator and school principal Mary Shuttleworth founded YHRI in August 2001.
Having spent 30 years working with children, Mary, decided to launch YHRI to teach human rights to children.
What is Youth for Human Rights International?
The goals of the YHRI are to provide easy-to-understand human rights education to adults and children so they are able to grasp what fundamental human rights are as aligned with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and to effectively combat violations of human rights.
The YHRI carries out projects that address and help restore human rights and freedoms. Its headquarters is in Los Angeles.
Why is there a need for Youth for Human Rights International?
Youth are not regularly taught human rights and do not understand what they are. Consequently, many enter adulthood with no idea of the basic rights they were born with. Yet the youth of today are our leaders of tomorrow. They must be made aware of their rights, both for their own sake and to secure these rights for others across the world.
Youth for Human Rights International mobilizes youth in the service of human rights and provides a voice for those who would not otherwise have one.
What problems does Youth for Human Rights International plan to solve?
There are unlimited ways to help young people today. Many are victims of poverty, intolerance and lack of education, with no future to look forward to.
The statistics are staggering:
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One third of all children are not registered at birth, resulting in no official record of their existence and leaving them vulnerable to denial of health care and schooling.
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Around 30 million infants do not receive routine immunizations.
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A third of the children in the world suffer from malnutrition.
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In terms of basic education, over 100 million children of primary school age are not in school and many more receive poor quality education.
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UNICEF estimates that more than 200,000 children are enslaved by cross border smuggling in West and Central Africa alone. Of the estimated 27 million enslaved people in the world today, most are women and children.
YHRI believes that widespread education in human rights will go a long way towards alleviating these problems.
