Making Human Rights a Fact
As Scientology places great importance
on the individual’s freedom to
pursue happiness and develop one’s
full potential, it was only natural that members of
Scientology churches would embrace the cause
of human rights, as articulated in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights.
Written in answer to the global atrocities
of World War II, the Declaration states that, “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal
and inalienable rights of all members of the human
family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace
in the world.”
Although the United Nations originally
authored and ratified the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights in 1948, it was almost immediately
forgotten. As Mr. Hubbard pointed out, “Very few
governments have implemented any part of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. These governments have
not grasped that their very survival depends utterly
upon adopting such reforms and thus giving their
peoples a cause, a civilization worth supporting, worth
their patriotism.”
In order to increase public understanding
of human rights, the Church of Scientology
International’s Human Rights Office teamed up with
Youth for Human Rights International to publicise
the Universal Declaration on every possible channel
of communication.
It began in 1998 with an annual marathon
throughout Europe and Britain led by a team of
Scientologists who used the medium of sport to
convey the importance of human rights to the peoples
of Europe.
Another means of developing grassroots
awareness of human rights issues is through the
targeted distribution of pamphlets and booklets, containing educational information on the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights.
And to deliver its powerful message in terms anyone can understand, all 30 articles of the Universal Declaration were brought to life in the form of public service announcements aired on some 700 television stations, reaching more than 135 million internationally — and due to their overwhelming popularity, it is a figure that continues to grow every day.
Contact us here for more information on our Human Rights campaigns.
