Human Rights: The Story of a Volunteer

by Sam_Butler | August 20, 2009 at 03:42 am

279 views | 38 Recommendations | 14 comments

The words "busy" and "important" don't even begin to describe the various elements of voluntary work done by thousands throughout the world to help better the quality of life for disadvantaged people, by way of which I refer not only to those in so-called 'third world' countries, but those living among us who also need help they would otherwise not receive.

For a number of years now I have worked with Youth for Human Rights International, an organisation primarily founded to provide human rights education to young people throughout the world, and supported by the Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology. Two years ago I was involved in organising their International Youth Summit in Los Angeles, California, while this time I find myself in Geneva, Switzerland, where the heat is almost as unbearable for poor old British me!

Quite aside from considerations of temperature however, are the very real issues surrounding the subject of human rights today. Prime among the problems faced by campaigners is the lack of understanding of what human rights actually are. For this there is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, intended as a panacaea for the war-torn planet in the wake of WWII. Ratified in 1948 by the UN General Assembly, the Declaration is the de facto list of fundamental human rights to be upheld by people the world over. Unfortunately, the failure of the UN member nations to give the Declaration the force of law has meant some have quite literally gotten away with murder, in spite of their agreement "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."

Thus we see that as volunteers, there remains plenty of work to be done. The courage I have seen displayed by young people from all corners of the world continues to amaze me, and the passion with which they dedicate themselves selflessly to helping their peers understand the rights they have as human beings, and which they must take responsibility for upholding within their communities, is unparalleled.

And so I find myself here, in the hometown of the UN's human rights arm, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, arranging flights and coordinating volunteers to bring together like-minded people both young and old, to discuss the subject of human rights. And in among the hassles of missing flags, conference bookings and hotel keys, I know that it's nothing compared to the suffering faced by those whose rights are continually violated, and so the task becomes a duty, to make human rights a fact.

The summit and awards ceremony organised by Youth for Human Rights International will take place over several days next week at a number of venues in Geneva, Switzerland. For more information, contact Youth for Human Rights International.

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Babel-Fish

at 04:08 on August 20th, 2009

Human rights are pretty simple to understand, can not see the problem why people can not understand its all about common decency, respect, social care and complete fair play.

Sam_Butler

at 04:11 on August 20th, 2009

I completely agree, but unfortunately many people are simply not taught this and so no matter how simple, they don't get it. Having said that, once you make the information available, it's very easy to teach people, whether youth or adult.

jazzyzazzy

at 09:20 on August 20th, 2009

gives a job.

Sam_Butler

at 09:24 on August 20th, 2009

What? And "hard cheese"?! That made me laugh :-p

getbeckyout

at 09:31 on August 24th, 2009

The Youth for Human Rights International is just a front group for the CULT of Scientology.

A recruitment tool for building the LRH Pyramid of money, as per your own words ( unbearable for poor old British me!)

The CULT of Scientology does not know the meaning of HUMAN RIGHTS, just ask ex Sea org members like i have.

Even my own daughter talkes of the long hours in the Sea org, for pay below the minimum wage. Where are there HUMAN RIGHTS ?

Search on the internet WHY ARE THEY DEAD, and start with Lisa McPherson

On December 5, 1995, Lisa McPherson was dead on arrival at a hospital 45 minutes north of Clearwater Florida. According to the coroner's report, Lisa was underweight, severely dehydrated, and had bruises and bug bites (see the entire report here).

Lisa's last address was listed by the police as 210 S. Ft. Harrison in Clearwater Florida, which is the Fort Harrison Hotel, a Scientology property. Lisa had been a Scientologist from the age of 18 to her death at age 36.

The facts are out there for all to see.

Enjoy your Holiday Sam.

getbeckyout

at 09:59 on August 24th, 2009

The CULT OF Scientology at there best on HUMAN RIGHTS

http://elysianchakorta.wordpress.com/

susan talbot (not verified)

at 14:39 on August 28th, 2009

I Agree, they (Scn) need to get their Human Rights in order first before they promote it.

Sam_Butler

at 13:59 on September 15th, 2009

By the way Tony, Geneva was great. Had a whale of a time, lots of young people nothing to do with Scientology, all totally revved up and raising awareness of human rights in their areas across the world. No ulterior motives, nothing to hide. One nosey reporter caused a stink in the local paper, no biggie. Enjoy your new telly.

outoforder

at 12:59 on August 28th, 2009

Hi Sam. Its a pity your trip to GENEVA Switzerland was not well received. I just found out what happened http://www.tdg.ch/geneve/actu/onu-mis-echec-tentative-infiltration-scientologues-2009-08-27. Of course I knew this would happen, but I didn't want to spoil your fun. Here is a rough translation of the article from the "TRIBUNE DE GENEVE"

CULTS | An accredited NGOs would serve as a Trojan horse for a "summit" organized covertly by the Church of Scientology.

ALAIN JOURDAN | 28.08.2009 | 00:00

The Church of Scientology has tried to pass the gates of the Palais des Nations, but could not do it. Initially, the 6th Annual International Summit on Human Rights was held at the UN. Its organizers, Des jeunes pour les droits de l'homme(Youth for Human Rights) and Village Suisse ONG, had to fall back on the quiet lounges of the Hotel Intercontinental. The proximity of these two organizations with the Church of Scientology eventually arouse suspicion, prompting the UN not to lend meeting room.

Des jeunes pour les droits de l'homme , whose statutes have been deposited in Switzerland, is a direct offshoot of the American Youth For Human Rights International, known as one of the satellites of Scientology. French Martine Rhein and Belgian Christian Mirre came to Geneva to oversee the staging of the conference which opens today. They make no secret of their membership in the organization founded by Ron Hubbard, but they ensure that there is no link between the Church of Scientology and Youth for Human Rights.

"It is true that initially Scientology supported it's creation because this organization represents the same moral values," says Martine Rhein.

The links with the african NGO Village Suisse ONG, who in 2008 obtained a consultative status with ECOSOC, raise more questions. If this organization located in Lancy historically has no connection with Scientology, it seems to have been closing-in. She was the one who requested a room with the Palais des Nations to organize the 6th Summit of international human rights. Accredited as an NGO, it has the right to meet there. But the institution has chosen to veto it. What is relatively unique.

A known NGO

The attempted infiltration of Scientology was a little too showy. On its website, Village Suisse ONG offers a link to another site that offers training on Trade and Development at 570 francs a day, delivered by the representative of the Church of Scientology in Switzerland. Which figure in recent months among the team that runs the NGO. Reached by telephone, the founder of Village Suisse ONG, Adalbert Nouga, responds that he does not "enter into the controversy."

He added to finish: "My organization has long worked with the Confederation. All information is on our website. We do not meddle in religion. "

Martine Rhein and Christian Mirre ensure that the conference held today at the Intercontinental is not to promote Scientology as a religion, but to encourage the public to better understand the articles of the Universal Declaration of human rights.

The organization of this conference also passed almost unnoticed. No leaflet was distributed in the street. Electronic invitations were addressed to diplomats and members of other NGOs. It is them who have sounded the alarm, surprised to see this strange summit of human rights arise from nowhere.

Martine Rhein and Christian Mirre are surprised by the reactions. Last year, the summit could be held at UN headquarters in New York without it, they say, raising the slightest indignation. Wich is not entirely accurate. The only difference is that a state has interceded that other time in their favor to get them a meeting room.

The anti-cult will sit with NGOs

The doors of the Palais des Nations did not open for Scientologists. In contrast, anti-cult organizations have received their entry badge. This Information passed until then unnoticed. During the summer, the Economic and Social Council(ECOSOC) has granted special consultative status with the European Federation of Centers of Research and Information on Sectarianism (Fecris). An initiative that is due to the Swiss President of the Swiss Association for the Defense of families and individuals (Adsfi) Danièle Muller-Tulli.

The Fecris, an umbrella association of which she is Vice-President, has over 50 associations in 31 countries mainly in Europe but with correspondents in other continents. It fights against the proliferation of sectarian and totalitarian groups. It has a participatory status with the Council of Europe. For several years, secular associations denounced entryism and lobbying by the sects in the UN and European fora under the guise of NGOs. Procult and anti-cult may now oppose it. on the Fecris side, the only rule seems to be: no masks (as in: you better be honest and upfront about who you are and what you wanr)

The holding in Geneva of a summit of human rights sponsored by Scientologists deos not surprise Danièle Muller, who has long denounced the European offensive of Scientologists.

"What disgust a good number of people all the way up to the UN circles, is how the Church of Scientology uses the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for its own advertising," says the president of the Adsfi .

Sam_Butler

at 13:59 on September 15th, 2009

Edit: Replied to wrong comment.

PanterA (not verified)

at 04:41 on August 31st, 2009

More cult lies.

outoforder

at 12:16 on September 15th, 2009

Hi Sam, I noticed you have not replied to any comments recently. That's rather disappointing. I hope everything is OK with you and you are free, TOTALLY FREE to reply to comments and watch videos which are critical of Scientology .Here are some video's which seem to show Scientology's understanding of Human rights for children. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJu-j4aa90Q and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeKzuyyIfG0&feature=related

Sam_Butler

at 13:35 on September 15th, 2009

Hi, thanks. Everything is great with me. Evidently you cannot tar everyone with the same brush under the broad generality of "Scientology," which is not an entity nor a group, rather a subject. I do not deny nor make excuses for perceived or actual wrongnesses committed by anyone in the name of my church or religion. But those people are not me, my colleagues, or my friends. Speaking of being totally free, that's what I stand for, and on this subject I think you'll agree that most reasonably-educated people feel the same way - human rights should be known, understood, and upheld. Nothing really to shoot each other down about then, is there?