More than 40,000 Scouts learn to Stand Up for Human Rights

More than 40,000 young people, aged 14-17, from across the world gathered to learn, laugh and work on the sustainable development goals during the 24th World Scout Jamboree.

The Jamboree, which happens once every four years, is a chance to members of scout troops and units from around the world to promote peace and mutual understanding and develop leadership and life skills.

UN Human Rights was one of the global partners for the Jamboree, which focused on the sustainable development goals. Through training both scouts and volunteer scout leaders, the Office provided discussions for scouts on how promoting human rights can help achieve the sustainable development goals, and reminded scouts that through their service work they were defending human rights.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, told scouts that young people are currently the forefront of human rights defense and to continue that  commitment.

“I want to encourage all of you to help us make these commitments become real policies,” she said via a recorded message. “Remember -- we all have a right to dignity, equality, justice and fundamental freedoms”

Jan Mlymarczyk from Poland is one of the volunteers at the Jamboree, training the scouts on human rights issues. A scout himself for 6 years, Mlymarczyk, said it is very important for young people to be reminded to stand up for human rights.

“I can see a lot of young people that are not bothered by human rights whatsoever, which bothers me,” he said.  “From European perspective, we tend forget that there are other parts of the world where the state of human rights is not as good as ours.”

26 July 2019