Human Rights for Youth: Scientology’s Community Focus

Wiki Article

Brussels, 29 January 2026 — The Church of Scientology-supported human-rights education programmes through United for Human Rights and Youth for Human Rights International continue to highlight the UDHR as a practical civic reference for daily community life, especially for young people and educators across Europe.

The premise is simple: rights are more likely to be respected when they are widely understood. Adopted by the UN General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948, the UDHR defines 30 articles describing core rights and freedoms.

Organisers point to a persistent “knowledge gap”: many people support the idea of human rights but have limited familiarity with what the UDHR actually says, including topics such as non-discrimination, education and freedom of conscience.

United for Human Rights says it was launched around the 60th anniversary of the UDHR to provide educational tools that broaden awareness and encourage implementation of the Declaration. YHRI, established in 2001 by educator Dr. Mary Shuttleworth, focuses on youth education about the UDHR and a culture of tolerance and peace.

Both initiatives present their work as education and public information, mapping learning modules and media resources to the UDHR’s 30 articles. They are established as nonreligious organisations and, with Scientology support, their materials are used by a range of bodies—from schools and civic groups to local partners—depending on context.

A key feature is a toolkit-style approach: short videos, PSAs and teaching materials designed for schools and community presentations. The package includes a short documentary titled “The Story of Human Rights” and a series of PSAs aligned to each UDHR right, known as “30 Rights, 30 Ads”. Materials are hosted online across 17 languages, supporting adaptation to local needs and age groups.

Scientology’s support for the programmes is presented within a broader set of social initiatives emphasising prevention and education. Church materials reference L. Ron Hubbard’s writings and the Code of a Scientologist volunteers as underscoring support for humanitarian work, including human-rights education.

Ivan Arjona-Pelado, Scientology’s representative to the European Union, the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the United Nations, said:

“Human rights are not strengthened only by legal texts; they are strengthened when people can recognise them, explain them, and apply them in daily interactions—especially in schools and neighbourhoods where diversity is a lived reality. Europe’s democratic culture benefits when young people learn the UDHR’s principles early and see respect, equality and non-discrimination as practical responsibilities.”

Looking into 2026, organisers stress practical usability—clear language, short formats and modular content that supports educators and community leaders without specialised legal training. Typical delivery includes educator briefings, youth workshops, community sessions and partnerships with civil-society groups working on inclusion, anti-bullying, equal treatment and intercultural dialogue.

The Church of Scientology, its churches, missions, groups and members are present across the European continent. Scientology Europe reports a continent-wide presence through more than 140 churches, missions and affiliated groups in at least 27 European nations, alongside thousands of community-based social betterment and reform initiatives focused on education, prevention and neighbourhood-level support, inspired by the work of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.

Within Europe’s diverse national frameworks for religion, the Church’s recognitions continue to expand, with administrative and judicial authorities in Spain, Portugal, Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany Slovakia and others, as well as the European Court of Human Rights, having addressed and acknowledged Scientology communities as protected by the national and international provisions of Freedom of Religion or belief.

Full text of the press release: Human Rights for Youth: Scientology’s Community Focus.

Report this wiki page