Eleanor Roosevelt, former first lady, wrote an outstanding document titled "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights" This document lead 30 articles of Human Rights that everyone has. Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) was created to raise global awareness of this document, and teach children their human rights, and to teach them to respect others.

In December of 1948 the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration, and yet less then half of the population has ever heard of it.

Youth for Human Rights International has written a version of the Universal Declaration that virtually everyone can understand. Put in terms that children can easily comprehend and apply.

THESE ARE YOUR RIGHTS-

1. We Are All Born Free & Equal
2. Don't Discriminate
3. The Right to Life
4. No Slavery
5. No Torture
6. You Have Rights No Matter Where You Go
7. We're All Equal Before the Law
8. Your Human Rights Are Protected By Law
9. No Unfair Detainment
10. The Right to Trial
11. We're Always Innocent Till Proven Guilty
12. The Right to Privacy
13. Freedom to Move
14. The Right to Seek a Safe Place to Live
15. Right to a Nationality
16. Marriage and Family
17. The Right to Your Own Things
18. Freedom of Thought
19. Freedom of Expression
20. The Right to Public Assembly
21. The Right to Democracy
22. Social Security
23. Workers' Rights
24. The Right to Play
25. Food and Shelter for All
26. The Right to Education
27. Copyright
28. A Fair and Free World
29. Responsibility
30. No One Can Take Away Your Human Rights


The purpose of Youth for Human Rights International is:

To teach youth around the globe about Human Rights, thus helping them to become valuable advocates for the promotion of tolerance and peace.

Mary Shuttleworth, a school principal and children's advocate from Los Angeles, launched Youth for Human Rights International as an educational program for children so they come to understand at an early age the importance of human rights and religious tolerance. She realized that very little was being done to teach human rights to young people, and serves as Executive Director of the group.

There are many opportunities for you to support this vital campaign to educate youth about Human Rights.
1. Become a Foundation member

2. Become a Foundation Volunteer

3. Make a donation to support our work

4. Learn the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

5. Get your copy of one of the booklets, Know Your Human Rights, or What are Human Rights? (for children). The booklets are also available online here.

6. Read the booklets.

7. Distribute copies in your area.

8. Hold a human rights fundraising drive. Use the money to reprint the booklets for distribution in your area.

9. Support a human rights organization such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, or a local group.

10. Write to papers on human rights issues.

11. Join an anti-slavery group that combats the growing, illegal trade in human trafficking (Article 4 No one shall be held in slavery or servitude....)

12. Support the work of human rights organizations that campaign against inhumane treatment of individuals in psychiatric institutions (Article 5 No one shall be subjected to ... cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.)

13. If you are a member of a church, encourage interfaith dialogue with other churches. (Article 18 ... the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.)

14. Speak out, in local forums or by writing your newspaper or elected representatives, on behalf of the voices of minorities. (Article 19 ... the right to freedom of opinion and expression.)

15. Discourage attempts to deny peaceful groups their right to assembly (Article 20 ... the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.)

16. Encourage others to vote at local and national elections and to take part in public affairs. (Article 21 ...the right to take part in the government of [ones] country.)

17. Write your elected representative and ask him or her to support legislation mandating equal treatment in the workplace, if current laws are inequitable. (Article 23 of the Declaration ...the right to... just and favorable conditions of work.)

18. Become a member of a group that seeks to alleviate poverty in the world (Article 25 ... the right to a standard of living adequate for the health of himself and his family....)

19. Take an active interest in the education of your children by attending parent-teacher events at your school (Article 26 (1) ... the right to education.)

20. Support the right of parents to send their children to the school of their choice (Article 26 (3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.)

21. Join an association that promotes the arts (Article 27 the right freely to... enjoy the arts.)

22. Do at least one of the above and encourage your friends and family to do the same. (Article 29 everyone has duties to the community.


Teron Lexton, a fabulous YHRI supporter, directed an outstanding "UNITED" music video. This five minute inspiring peice featured one boy Uniting the world through his own belief and integrity. United has won over five international film festivals, and is now being nominated for the 2006 Acadamy Awards. Watch it online at http://www.youthforhumanrights.org

Since the launch of the "UNITED" video in 2004, Teron Lexton has not stopped progress on anything in Youth for Human Rights. Lexton released three Public Service Announcements (PSAs) in 2005, videos on three articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Human Right Number 2- Don't Discriminate. Human Right number 18, Freedom of Thought, and Human Right Number 19, Freedom of Expression. Facing the New Year in 2006 Lexton completed the project, finishing all of the videos. You now can see all thirty of your Human Rights come to life in these new Public Service Announcements.


Want a Human Rights PSA on your site? Click here!

VEIW ALL OF YOUR HUMAN RIGHTS.