Creating True Leaders of Tomorrow

Las Vegas, NV
9 September 2009

Youth delegates from around the world joined local students and community leaders at Youth for Human Rights International’s Youth Summit and Awards Dinner in Las Vegas on September 3rd. Hosted by the American-Iranian Friendship Association and its Founder and President, Dr. Pouran Ameli, the Summit featured an International Youth Delegation of twenty youth representing countries such as France, Germany, Iran, Japan, Kyrgyzstan and the United States, each wearing their country sash and bearing their country flag.

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.

Mr. Shahid Husain, United Nations Development Programme, Special Adviser, Special Unit for South-South Cooperation, flew in from New York for the summit. In his address he congratulated the leadership and encouraged the promotion of human rights education.

Mayor Goodman congratulated Youth for Human Rights International for its educational efforts. Dr. Pouran Ameli presented him with an Outstanding Leadership Award.

Youth for Human Rights International Founder and President Mary Shuttleworth, Ed.D., presented Dr. Ameli with a Lifetime of Service Award in recognition of her unrelenting work to further the cause of human rights especially for women and children.

Deanie Wlodek, owner of Opening Minds in Phoenix, conducted the Summit workshop for the delegates, including several members of the AYUSA Global Youth Exchange as well as local students. They viewed the award-winning UNITED video with its anti-bullying message and the newly released educational film, The Story of Human Rights. Also shown were the Youth for Human Rights public service announcement videos depicting the thirty articles of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, bringing a new awareness of what human rights are.

Members of the Las Vegas business education and religious community in attendance included Ross and Judy Abbasi of Champions Realty, who donated the location for the workshop. Professor Razmik Hakopian and his talented music students entertained the audience with several solo performances. The youth delegates shared their experiences and what they had learned about human rights and responsibilities.