The commemoration of South Africa Human Rights Day in Cape Town March 21 was a fitting conclusion to the 10th Annual Youth for Human Rights International World Educational Tour.

Youth for Human Rights International President Dr. Mary Shuttleworth was the special guest of King Thomas Edgar Brown March 21 at the National Khoisan Kingdom Cultural Event at Sand Stone Chapel in Constantia, Cape Town. The event brought to a close the 10th annual Youth for Human Rights International World Educational Tour, which circled the globe visiting eight countries and traveling 73,000 km (45,360 miles) in seven weeks.

The event was a commemoration of South Africa Human Rights Day and a tribute to tribal ancestors, with the unveiling of the Royal Khoisan Memorial Stone in their honor.

King Brown told the audience why he chose Human Rights Day for the celebration: “Modern technology has given us cell phones and computers, space ships and the Internet. However, human rights are sorely lacking and have not kept up with the technological advances. We must improve respect for human rights.”

He stressed the urgency of raising the bar on human rights in South Africa, citing gross violations of the rights of youth. According to the Salvation Army, an estimated 30,000 children, half of them under 14, are forced into prostitution in South Africa.

In addressing those gathered for the event, Dr. Shuttleworth stressed the responsibility each individual has for ensuring respect for human rights, stating, “Human Rights and responsibilities are inseparable.”

Ms. Erica Chesler, Coordinator of Youth for Human Rights in the Cape, provided attendees human rights educational booklets, generously donated by the Church of Scientology, to help them learn and promote human rights.

The purpose of Youth for Human Rights International is to teach youth about human rights, specifically the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and inspire them to become advocates for tolerance and peace.

Scientologists on five continents engage in collaborative efforts with government agencies and nongovernmental organizations to bring about broad-scale awareness and implementation of the 1948 United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the world’s premier human rights document.

The Church of Scientology published Scientology: How We Help—United for Human Rights, Making Human Rights a Global Reality to meet requests for more information about the human rights education and awareness initiative the Church supports. To learn more, visit www.Scientology.org/humanrights.

Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “Human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream,” and the Scientology religion is based on the principles of human rights. The Code of a Scientologist calls on all members of the religion to dedicate themselves “to support true humanitarian endeavors in the fields of human rights.”