BRUSSELS, Belgium — 29 January 2026 — Human-rights education initiatives supported by the Church of Scientology through United for Human Rights and Youth for Human Rights International continue to frame the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) as an accessible, practical reference for everyday civic life—particularly for young people, educators and community-based organisations in increasingly diverse European societies.
United for Human Rights and Youth for Human Rights expand rights-literacy resources used by educators, civic groups and local partners across Europe
BRUSSELS, Belgium — 29 January 2026 — Human-rights education initiatives supported by the Church of Scientology through United for Human Rights and Youth for Human Rights International continue to frame the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) as an accessible, practical reference for everyday civic life—particularly for young people, educators and community-based organisations in increasingly diverse European societies.
The approach centres on a straightforward premise: that rights are more likely to be respected when they are widely understood. The UDHR—adopted by the UN General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948—sets out 30 articles describing fundamental rights and freedoms and is among the most translated documents in the world.
Addressing a persistent “knowledge gap” about rights
Organisers involved in rights-education efforts frequently point to a challenge that is not limited to any one country: many people endorse the idea of “human rights” in principle, but have limited familiarity with what the UDHR actually says—how it defines non-discrimination, due process, freedom of thought and conscience, education, and other core protections.
On its European human-rights information pages, the Church of Scientology describes the decision to focus educational materials around the UDHR as a response to surveys indicating limited public awareness of the Declaration and its 30 rights. It also shows that multimedia materials used in the campaign reach large audiences annually, emphasising communication formats that can be used in classrooms, community settings and civic presentations.
Human-rights education as a concept is also rooted in the Declaration’s own framing: the UN’s human-rights office notes the UDHR’s emphasis on promoting respect for rights through “teaching and education.”
Two complementary programmes: United for Human Rights and Youth for Human Rights
United for Human Rights (UHR) states that it was founded on the 60th anniversary of the UDHR, with the goal of supporting individuals and organisations with educational tools intended to broaden awareness and encourage implementation of the rights described in the Declaration.
Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) is a well known non-profit organisation founded in 2001 by educator Dr. Mary Shuttleworth, with a focus on teaching young people about the UDHR and encouraging a culture of tolerance and peace in their everyday environments.
Both programmes their work primarily as education and public information, using a consistent structure that maps learning modules and media resources to the UDHR’s 30 articles. The initiatives, proudly sponsored and supported by the Church of Scientology, are established as nonreligious organisations and the resources are used by a range of entities—from schools and civic groups to law-enforcement and governmental bodies—depending on national context and local partnerships.
A toolkit model: short films, PSAs and structured learning materials
A recurring feature of the campaigns is a “toolkit” approach: short, adaptable resources designed for different audiences and educational settings. The educational package includes a short documentary film (“The Story of Human Rights”), along with a series of public service announcements aligned to each UDHR right (“30 Rights, 30 Ads”).
The components and interactive websites host resources across 17 languages, allowing educators and organisers to use consistent content while adapting delivery to local needs and age groups.
While approaches vary by country and community, the practical objective is broadly the same: improving everyday understanding of what rights mean in real situations—at school, at work, in public services and in civic participation—so that rights language becomes clearer and less abstract.
The Church of Scientology’s involvement and L. Ron Hubbard’s emphasis on rights and dignity
The Church of Scientology’s involvement in human-rights education is part of a wider set of community and social-betterment initiatives focused on prevention and education. Its European human-rights page links the emphasis on rights awareness to the early writings of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, stating that spiritual freedom and enlightenment are difficult to attain for individuals denied fundamental human rights, and citing the Code of a Scientologist as calling on members to support humanitarian endeavours in the field of human rights.
The same published material presents this as a longstanding orientation: a rights-awareness effort organised through cooperation with a mix of governmental and non-governmental actors, using the UDHR as a shared reference point across cultures and belief systems.
Rights literacy as a European civic skill
Ivan Arjona-Pelado, Scientology’s representative to the European Union, the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the United Nations, framed the programmes’ emphasis on education as aligned with European civic expectations:
“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.”
The focus going into 2026 is on ensuring materials remain available and usable in real-world educational contexts—clear language, short formats, and modular content that supports lesson plans and community discussions without requiring specialist legal knowledge. In practice, this typically translates into training sessions for educators and youth workers, informational workshops in community settings, and partnerships with civil-society organisations whose work intersects with youth 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.
Media Contact
Organization: European Office Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights
Contact Person: Ivan Arjona
Website: https://www.scientologyeurope.org
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City: Brussels
State: Brussels
Country:Belgium
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