The delegates present their flags on the cliffsides outside Camelot Castle

On August 27, 2005, the Youth for Human Rights European Summit and Arts Festival began at Camelot Castle in Cornwall, England inspired by the legend of King Arthur, a name synonymous with wisdom and fairness. Youth for Human Rights International and the Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology International co-organized this event to unite youth from around Europe in support of human rights under the banner of the free expression of art.

Or as Mary Shuttleworth, President of Youth for Human Rights International put it �The artist brings inspiration, revitalization and hope for a better future. Without nurturing the artists of today, hope for tomorrow dims. The importance of the artist must never be underestimated.�

Delegates from across Europe were selected based on their participation in forwarding human rights through the arts and making a difference in their communities. Each delegate submitted a short story, poem or work of fine art. Awards were given at Camelot Castle for each category.

Legend tells that King Arthur was able to draw the Sword in the Stone because, unlike others who tried and failed, he intended to use the power of the sword to do nothing but good. The history of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table make Camelot Castle an ideal location for celebrating human rights through the arts.

So it was that delegates from across Europe converged on Camelot for two days to learn how they can improve human rights in their countries through the arts.

The event opened with a procession of two dozen delegates bearing flags. Daniel Rogerson, Member of Parliament for Cornwall, commended Youth for Human Rights and warned that human rights, after having been dearly fought for by our ancestors, can be curtailed in a flash.

The delegates gather around King Arthur's table to formulate action plans for their countries

A representative of the Church of Scientology in Great Britain, Janet Laveau, introduced What are Human Rights? a child friendly version of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human. Mary Shuttleworth, President of Youth for presented the UNITED music video (learn more about UNITED) and emphasized that she is carrying on King Arthur�s tradition.

During a panel discussion on �Working United to Forward Human Rights,� youth delegates and adults addressed the defense of human rights in the face of terrorism and discrimination. The first day ended with 30 delegates creating two large mural paintings on the theme of human rights.

On the following day a youth summit was held around a replica of King Arthur�s Table. Delegates formulated action plans for their respective countries. As a final statement of unity in the fight for human rights, a long row of kites, each representing an article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, was created and flown over the castle.