Church of Scientology London Holds International Human Rights Conference Bringing Communities Together in Peace

London, UK, January 3, 2016 (Newswire.com) - ​​Over thirty Community and Faith leaders gathered together to work towards peace, greater understanding and tolerance.

The statistics reviewed showed 40 million children suffering from abuse and neglect, up to 800,000 people being trafficked across international borders, while UNICEF estimates that 300,000 children are currently being exploited as child soldiers and more than one billion adults are unable to read. 

"I believe the Church of Scientology is trying hard to bring about the awareness and implementation of the principles of UN Human Rights, starting from their own doorstep extending across the whole country and to the four corners of the globe. I believe they have taken the strong first step on a journey to bring about brotherhood, equality, friendship, education and understanding to all populations and happiness and smiles to the faces of the children of the world. I pray for their success."

Dr Sheikh Hojjat Ramzy, Director of the Iqra Islamic Institute and Oxford Islamic Information Centre

Mr. L Ron Hubbard said many years ago, “Human Rights must be made a fact and not an idealistic dream”, with the many human rights abuses occurring daily, we must work harder to make Human Rights a reality for every human being on this earth.

The theme of the conference was the importance of human rights education in changing social attitudes between different communities and cultures. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights lays out the 30 rights of all human beings and was created in 1948, in the aftermath of the Second World War and the loss of over 60 million lives. 

Guest of Honour was Dr Sheikh Hojjat Ramzy, Director of the Iqra Islamic Institute and Oxford Islamic Information Centre, who spoke about the challenges we must face together in implementing the Declaration of Human Rights. 

Dr Ramzy said "I believe the Church of Scientology is trying hard to bring about the awareness and implementation of the principles of UN Human Rights, starting from their own door step extending across the whole country and to the four corners of the globe. I believe they have taken the strong first step on a journey to bring about brotherhood,  equality,  friendship, education and understanding to all populations and happiness and smiles to the faces of the children of the world. I pray for their success."

Mr Mark Pinchin, Director of Special Affairs at the Church, presented an overview of the Church’s human rights program and education materials, which are provided free of charge to educators and community groups. He explained how to use the education materials including lesson plans for each human right, posters, and short one minute videos about each of the 30 rights. 

He went on to say, “If we educate enough children now as to what their human rights are, we will have generations to come that intrinsically understand and apply these rights not only to themselves but also those around them.”  

Many of those present agreed to start teaching human rights in their community and businesses here in London and beyond. Today, Scientologists on five continents engage in collaborative efforts with government agencies and nongovernmental organizations 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. Scientology welcomes the participation and collaboration of all who share the goal of a world where human rights are an everyday reality for all. - Tracey Coleman