There were several international organizations represented at this summit at the UN. From Monks to Activists and many impassioned speakers came a plea to the youth delegates representing their countries. More often than not the biggest issue raised was human trafficking and the sex trade especially when it came to the young of third world countries. Even though my friend Mary and I tried not to be in the way of the organizers as we never left our young wards, their initial resistance gave way as they all came to see that it was an extremely wise thing to do.
The actress Ann Archer founded the Artists for Human Rights as another non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to raise awareness of these 30 articles so they can be implemented and defended. Ms Archer headed a panel of speakers among them my favorite Jack Healey. Mr Healey was with Martin Luther King and helped organize the march on Washington in '63. For 12 years he was the Director for Amnesty International - U.S. and made it a household word. During those years he arranged 4 musical tours that included Sting, U2, Bruce Springstein and Peter Gabriel. He speaks like a lion and in a very strong voice he advised all the youths to become presidents of their countries so human rights will not have to be a struggle and something to strive for. He also was very passionate when relating how badly the Native Americans of this continent have been and are still being treated by our governments and shared with us that he has Cree blood and proud of it.
Here is a video on his life and the concerts he organized for human rights...
During a workshop held to assist the youth delegates to put a plan of action in place when they returned home, a young man shared his story. When he was 9 years old he awoke to the sound of guns in his small town in Africa. He fled with others on foot to the checkpoints at Sierre Leone where if you did not answer a question to their satisfaction..you were shot. At some point years later (I am going by my notes here) when he was able to find an internet connection there he googled human rights and read the Declaration and found out that Africa and many other countries all agreed to these articles, his shock was that they even existed. He then found the youth for human rights organization and has been inspiring people ever since.
