INTRODUCTION

SUPPORTING GLOBAL
HUMAN RIGHTS AWARENESS

Early in his research into the human mind and spirit, author, humanitarian and Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard emphasised that spiritual freedom and enlightenment were all but unattainable goals to individuals denied their most fundamental human rights.

CENTRAL to SCIENTOLOGY BELIEFS is a CONVICTION that all HUMANKIND is entitled to INALIENABLE RIGHTS.

Accordingly, he wrote the Code of a Scientologist, calling on all members of the religion to dedicate themselves “to support true humanitarian endeavours in the fields of human rights.” In doing so, he laid the groundwork for what has become a global movement of advocates for the human rights of all people, regardless of their social condition, ethnicity or religious affiliation.

Today, Scientologists on five continents engage in collaborative efforts with government agencies and nongovernmental organisations to bring about broad-scale awareness and implementation of the 1948 United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the world’s premier human rights document.

We welcome the participation and collaboration of all who share the goal of a world where human rights are an everyday reality for all.

EDUCATING PEOPLE ACROSS THE GLOBE
ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS

We are confronted daily with news of ethnic conflicts, inhumane practises, civil unrest and war.

The media is filled with stories of human rights violations—from domestic violence and school bullying to corruption and poverty and government-sanctioned discrimination. All the while, a majority of the world’s population does not even know what human rights are and that they are entitled to them.

With the support of the Church of Scientology, multimedia human rights materials educate and raise awareness, reaching more than 100 million individuals worldwide each year.

The United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights became the specific educational focus of the programme after surveys showed that less than 10 % of the population knew of the existence of the Declaration and even fewer could name more than one or two of the 30 basic rights articulated in the document.

The increasing interest of young people in learning their human rights generated by the What are Human Rights? booklet led to the creation of 30 educational public service announcements (PSAs), each depicting one of the human rights laid out in the Universal Declaration.

The film The Story of Human Rights is a key component of the human rights education campaign, introducing viewers of all ages to their most fundamental freedoms.

The Story of Human Rights is a striking 10-minute documentary defining one of the world’s most misunderstood subjects.

Both United for Human Rights and Youth for Human Rights International maintain interactive websites with the full array of resources available in 17 languages.

All human rights booklets, PSAs and The Story of Human Rights are available to download or order online. The websites feature an interactive virtual educational system for anyone teaching or learning basic human rights.

A basic premise of human rights is that they are for everyone. Thus, regardless of economic or cultural background, any individual, by participating in these programmes, can galvanise popular support for human rights and human rights education in their own community, city or country.

The Church of Scientology International Dissemination and Distribution Centre in Los Angeles, California, stands at the heart of the global humanitarian initiatives supported by Churches of Scientology and Scientologists. In addition to generating dissemination materials for the more than 10,000 Scientology Churches, Missions and affiliated groups worldwide, the centre produces educational materials for all Church-sponsored humanitarian programmes.

Achieving global implementation of human rights requires widespread human rights education.

To bring it about, for more than 40 years Churches of Scientology and their members have initiated and supported programmes that effectively raise popular awareness of human rights and teach them to youth and adults.