Human Rights for Youth: Scientology’s Civic Community Focus

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BRUSSELS, Belgium — 29 January 2026 — Human-rights education initiatives supported by the Church of Scientology through United for Human Rights (UHR) and Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) continue to frame the UDHR as an easy-to-use reference for everyday civic life, particularly for youth, teachers and community leaders throughout Europe.

The premise is simple: rights are more likely to be respected when they are widely understood. Approved by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948, the UDHR lists news euro 2024 30 articles describing basic rights and freedoms.

Programme partners highlight a common challenge: many people endorse human rights as a principle but do not know the UDHR’s specific articles, including topics such as non-discrimination, due process and freedom of thought.

United for Human Rights describes itself as created on the UDHR’s 60th anniversary, offering educational materials to expand awareness and support implementation. Youth for Human Rights International, founded in 2001 by Dr. Mary Shuttleworth, focuses on introducing young people to the UDHR and strengthening everyday tolerance and peace.

Both programmes focus on education and public information, using structured learning that corresponds to the UDHR’s 30 rights. 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: adaptable media resources and structured learning tools designed for schools and community presentations. The package includes the documentary “The Story of Human Rights” and a series of PSAs often described as “30 Rights, 30 Ads”. Resources are available across 17 languages to support local delivery and age-appropriate use.

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 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 civic culture is reinforced when young people learn the UDHR’s principles early and view 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. In practice this includes training sessions, youth workshops, community discussions and partnerships with civil-society organisations engaged in 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 press release: Human Rights for Youth: Scientology’s Community Focus.

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