Working to Make a Better World for Those on Life’s Fringe

The Church of Scientology supports myriad humanitarian initiatives worldwide to overcome attitudes that foster marginalization and injustice.

In his World Social Justice Day message, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, “With exclusion and inequality on the rise, we must step up efforts to ensure that all people, without discrimination, are able to access opportunities to improve their lives and those of others.” And he stressed the need to “build inclusive societies, promote decent work, bolster social protection floors, and bring people in from the margins.”

But what will it actually take to bring this about?

 

The Church of Scientology sponsors an array of humanitarian programs to address the source of exclusion.

United for Human Rights and its sister organization for young people, Youth for Human Rights, effectively convey the rights that every man, woman or child deserves to enjoy. The Story of Human Rights documentary is a fresh and compelling presentation of the history of human rights and the breakthrough represented by the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which for the first time fully codified the subject.

To make the principles enshrined in the UDHR understandable to young people, Youth for Human Rights has conveyed them in terms and images children and teens easily grasp with the What Are Human Rights? booklet and 30 public service announcements, one for each article in that document.

Teachers report an observable change in attitude of children who study these materials, particularly regarding bullying—a very serious form of marginalization that affects young people.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds
  
• 15 percent of high school students seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months and
  
• Seven percent reported making at least one suicide attempt in the previous year.
  

Teachers who implement the Youth for Human Rights educational curriculum report a noticeable decrease in bullying, with students treating each other with more compassion.

Through support from the Church of Scientology, United for Human Rights and Youth for Human Rights make these materials available free of charge to anyone wishing to use them.

For more information visit the Scientology website.