Human Rights Awareness Tour

The Human Rights Awareness Tour is a group of traveling student organizers, non-governmental organizations, film makers, bands, photographers, journalists, artists, poets, and performers who have united in an effort to promote Human Rights and establish the notion as a nationwide concern. The Human Rights Awareness Tour will be stopping at universities across the country to organize motivational and educational events to create a positive environment for students and all others to learn about the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as current human rights violations around the globe and the organizations that are playing key roles in defending human rights.
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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is an advisory declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in Resolution 217 on December 10, 1948 at Palais de Chaillot in Paris. It consists of 30 articles which outline the view of the United Nations General Assembly on the rights guaranteed to all people. Eleanor Roosevelt, first chairwoman of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) that drafted the Declaration, said, "It is not a treaty... [In the future, it] may well become the international Magna Carta."


Based on student and faculty interest and venue availability, a designated week may include any or all of the following events: the Human Rights Awareness Festival with local and national bands and performances, the No Sweat Fashion Show featuring sweatshop free clothing, the Fair Trade Coffee Night with poetry readings and acoustic music, a Speaker Series, a Film Series, and a Human Rights Art Exhibit with live art.

We at the Human Rights Awareness Tour have made a committment to positive activism and believe that the best way to effectively raise awareness that will induce international improvement is through positive thinking and communication. We celebrate and support the United Nations' draft of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. According to John R. Corkery, Executive Director of the tour, "Human rights were created to be enjoyed by all of humanity. Our goal with this tour is simply to let people know in a positive way about the existence and benefits of Human Rights. We are not here to push any political agenda, religious ideology, force actions upon anyone, or tell people what to do. We want to show people that human rights are a good thing and are cause for celebration, but ultimately we want people to come to their own conclusions about the best way to support these rights."

Our ideology is perhaps best summarized by the following two quotations from Mother Theresa and Martin Luther King Jr.

"I was once asked why I don't participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I'll be there." Mother Theresa

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." Martin Luther King Jr.

We thank you for your interest and participation in this inspirational movement.

http://www.humanrightstour.org/