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2nd Annual International Youth Summit 2005 in Los Angeles
David Starr Jordan High School students joined youth delegates from 18 nations at the 2nd Annual Celebration of Youth for Human Rights Day, an international youth summit hosted by the school. More than 40 youth tackled pressing human rights issues both local and international, with delegates from countries including Australia, Turkey, Canada, Vietnam, Italy, Switzerland, South Africa and Ethiopia.
Jordan school principal Dr. Stephen Strachan officially opened the summit, while Gino Montesinos, a Harvard Drama School graduate and successful film actor, acted as moderator and participant. He told of a childhood in Harlem, New York, dominated by petty crime and a sense of futility. Had he known his human rights, he told the youth, his early life would have been very different. Montesinos challenged them to formulate effective ways to spread the principles embraced in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
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Jordan High School student
speaks at the Summit
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Al Johnson, counselor at Jordan High whose contribution played a major role in the success of the summit, pointed out that such events are too infrequent. "Today our leadership students interacted with student delegates from around the world.They were able to discuss issues that included freedoms, student involvement in making change, their own improvement and that of others. After this summit our students know that they have the task to continue to involve others in the work of making the principles outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights become a reality."
Tim Bowles, Executive Director of Youth for Human Rights International, which organized the event with Jordan, told the students, "You are the future. It is up to you to create that future."
YHRI President Mary Shuttleworth pointed to actual tools that YHRI has produced to assist youth in teaching human rights to others. One is a booklet, What Are Human Rights?, which contains a version of the Universal Declaration suitable for young people. Another tool is the award-winning music video, UNITED, which has generated an international movement for human rights and inspired a film festival to give youth a forum to address human rights issues.
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Mary Shuttleworth and Tim Bowles make a presentation to the principal of Jordan High School
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In recognition of the day, the offices of California State Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally, LA County Supervisor Yvonne Burke and the City of Los Angeles issued proclamations recognizing Jordan High and YHRI.
LA County Supervisor Yvonne Burke and Los Angeles Councilwoman Janice Hahn made presentations that also acknowledged the Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles.
By conference end, four projects were initiated for implementation by delegates and students, including one to teach children using a YHRI human rights handbook and another to translate key materials to reach youth who speak in local dialects.
This year’s event marked the first celebration of Youth for Human Rights Day International since the Mayor of Los Angeles proclaimed the day on October 1, 2004.
United Tour
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