Florida Students March to End Bullying and Human Rights Abuses

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Nov. 25, 2013 - PRLog -- Students and local residents took to the streets of Florida Atlantic University’s campus on Thursday to “March for Human Rights”. Nearly 100 people participated at this event, which was sponsored by Be Aware, Share and Act for Peace (ASAP) and Youth for Human Rights Florida, (YHR).

         After assembling at the Live Oak Pavilion Center, the group watched public service announcements created by YHR that show the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights in gripping detail. This was followed by speakers including:Daniel G. Bauer, from the School of Public Administration FAU; and Lee Ann Cherwood, who spoke on domestic abuse.

         The walkers were then led through the streets of the campus by FAU’s Brazilian Percussion Ensemble.

         “Human rights education is important at a college level because students at this level do get bullied and do find themselves victims of human rights abuses,” said Paola Martinez, YHR Program Coordinator.

         She cited an on-line poll done by University of Tampa's online newspaper website (www.minaretonline.com) where the consensus is that bullying in college is more subtle, and comes in the form of gossiping, rumors, cyber bullying and harassing text messages.

         “Marches like this help raise awareness on human rights in general. These are rights that we all have, because we are a part of the human race. Bullying may seem like a small thing, but it is something that students have experienced and is real evidence for the students that human rights abuses do exist.”

         ASAP’s mission is to encourage FAU students to give back to the community and raise awareness on issues such as poverty, human trafficking, global education and inequality.

         Youth for Human Rights Florida (YHR)  is a chapter of Youth for Human Rights International, a non-profit organization with a unique video-based educational program based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

         Concluded Martinez, “We are inspired by humanitarians and human rights activists throughout the ages, such as Mohandas Gandhi, who said ‘You must be the change you wish to see in the world’ and L. Ron Hubbard, who said ‘Human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream.’ When we work with other groups with the same purpose, we can get a lot done!”

         To find out more about human rights education or to see public service announcements of the 30 human rights go to the website at: http://www.youthforhumanrights.org