Human Rights for Youth: Scientology’s Civic Community Focus

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BRUSSELS — 29 January 2026 — The Church of Scientology-supported human-rights education programmes through United for Human Rights and Youth for Human Rights (YHRI) continue to present the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a practical civic reference for daily community life, especially for young people and educators throughout Europe.

The approach rests on a simple idea: understanding rights helps strengthen respect for them. Approved by the UN General Assembly 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 do not know the UDHR’s specific articles, including topics such as equal treatment, due process 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. Youth for Human Rights International, founded in 2001 by educator Dr. Mary Shuttleworth, focuses on teaching young people about the UDHR and encouraging tolerance and peace in everyday settings.

Both initiatives emphasise education, aligning training and media resources with each of the UDHR’s 30 articles. The organisations are described as nonreligious, while being sponsored and supported by the Church of Scientology, and their resources are used by schools, civic groups and local partners depending on national context.

A key feature is a toolkit-style approach: short films, public service announcements and structured learning materials designed for schools and community presentations. The package includes the documentary “The Story of Human Rights” and a series of PSAs mapping each right through “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. Official materials also cite L. Ron Hubbard and the Code of a Scientologist in relation to supporting humanitarian endeavours in the field of human rights.

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

“Human rights grow stronger when people can recognise them, explain them, and apply them in everyday interactions—particularly in schools and neighbourhoods where diversity is a daily reality. Europe’s democratic culture benefits when young people learn the UDHR’s news eureka ca principles early and see respect, equality and non-discrimination as practical responsibilities.”

For 2026, the focus is on making materials easy to use in real settings—clear language, modular tools and training that supports educators and community discussions without specialist legal expertise. Common activities include training for educators and youth workers, community workshops and cooperation with civil-society partners in areas such as inclusion, anti-bullying and equal treatment.

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.

More details in the full article: Human Rights for Youth: Scientology’s Community Focus.

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