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

The programmes are built on a clear premise: knowledge of rights supports respect for rights. Adopted on 10 December 1948 by the UN General Assembly, the UDHR sets out 30 articles describing basic rights and freedoms.

Programme partners highlight a common challenge: many people agree with human rights in principle but have limited familiarity with what the UDHR actually says, including topics such as non-discrimination, due process and freedom of thought.

UHR states it was founded on the UDHR’s 60th anniversary, with a goal of helping individuals and organisations promote and apply the Declaration’s principles. 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 initiatives present their work as education and public information, mapping learning modules and media resources to the UDHR’s 30 articles. They news eu wahlen 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 consistent feature is a “toolkit” model: short films, public service announcements and structured learning materials designed for educational and civic contexts. The package includes “The Story of Human Rights” documentary and a series of PSAs mapping each right through “30 Rights, 30 Ads”. Interactive websites host resources in 17 languages, helping educators adapt delivery to local audiences.

Scientology’s support for the programmes is presented within a broader set of social initiatives emphasising prevention and education. Its published materials reference Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard on the importance of safeguarding fundamental rights and human dignity, and cite the Code of a Scientologist as encouraging humanitarian engagement 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 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.”

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.

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