The January art exhibit co-hosted by the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office, United for Human Rights, Youth for Human Rights International's Washington, D.C. chapter, and Art Impact International featured five artists focusing on the theme of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The pop-up exhibit, held at the historic Fraser Mansion, was part of the monthly First Friday: Art Walk Dupont Circle where people walk between numerous galleries and organizations featuring art.
At the beginning of the show, Patrick S. Smith, a native Washingtonian, was awarded Artist of the Year 2025 by Youth for Human Rights International, Washington, D.C., for his outstanding participation and artistic excellence at Art Walk Dupont Circle. The exhibit featured portraits of famous human rights activists including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., abstracts, assemblage art, and wax on glass created by artists Roslyn Cambridge, Carolyn Goodridge, Sante Johnson, Patrick Smith, and J. Thomas Wells.
Mr. Azhar Haq, Executive Director of Youth for Human Rights International's D.C. chapter, emphasized the significance of art in human rights advocacy, stating that art speaks where words cannot fully communicate the same concepts and brings people of all different beliefs and cultures together to appreciate something beautiful. The artists were on site and discussed their work and the human and civil rights themes that inspired them.
In addition to the artwork, free educational materials on the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights were available to attendees, courtesy of Youth for Human Rights International, whose mission is to provide human rights educational resources and activities that inform, assist and unite individuals, educators, organizations and governmental bodies. These materials on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are also available free at http://www.youthforhumanrights.org.
Art Walk Dupont is a recurring cultural experience that brings free art exhibits to galleries, embassies, and cultural centers throughout the historic Dupont Circle neighborhood. United for Human Rights is an international, not-for-profit organization dedicated to implementing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at local, regional, national and international levels. Youth for Human Rights International is the sister organization of United for Human Rights, founded in 2001 to teach young people around the world about human rights so they become advocates for tolerance and peace.
The recognition of artistic contributions to human rights advocacy represents a growing intersection between cultural expression and social responsibility initiatives. For business and technology leaders, this development highlights how creative industries and educational organizations are collaborating to address fundamental societal issues through accessible community engagement. The use of art as a medium for human rights education demonstrates innovative approaches to raising awareness about universal principles that underpin ethical business practices and technological development.
Organizations like Youth for Human Rights International and United for Human Rights represent a model of how non-profit initiatives can partner with cultural institutions to disseminate important information about rights and responsibilities in modern society. The availability of free educational materials through channels like http://www.youthforhumanrights.org provides accessible resources for individuals and organizations seeking to incorporate human rights principles into their operations and community engagement strategies.
