Church of Scientology of Toronto

Toronto, 19 November 2005:
Youth for Human Rights Canada held its inaugural event at Toronto City Hall on November 19th. Highlighting the afternoon was the presentation of a plaque by Youth for Human Rights International founder Mary Shuttleworth to Dorothy Peterson recognizing the accomplishments of her father John Humphrey in drafting the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948. The Youth for Human Rights movement is based entirely on promoting and popularizing to youth an understanding of the human rights outlined in the UDHR as the solution to war and violence throughout the world. Stephen Haschemi, whose journalist mother Zahra Kazemi was brutally tortured and murdered in Iran, was also a featured speaker. Several hundred people were in attendance.

The afternoon opened with the Red Aboriginal Singers and Dancers who were followed by youth entertainers Sarah Melody and Jah Beng. Canadian Youth for Human Rights spokesperson, Ottawa actor Tyler Hynes, sent a video message as he was unable to attend due to commitments in Los Angeles. Other featured speakers included Nicole Crellin, Human Rights Director of the Church of Scientology of Toronto, Canadian race relations pioneer Bromley Armstrong and Ghulam Sujam of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. A special presentation of the award winning human rights video produced by Youth for Human Rights, UNITED, was also shown.

Khadija Mustapha-Ali, Vice President for Public Relations and Maxim Weithers, Vice President for Marketing of Youth for Human Rights Canada were instrumental in organizing and generating public interest and support for the launch event.