2007-12-19 23:01:27 - Scientology churches joined with human rights groups and individuals all faiths and creeds, as the United Nations launched a yearlong celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon gave voice to their common belief, when he said, "It is our duty to ensure that these rights are a living reality --that they are known, understood and enjoyed by everyone, everywhere."

The theme of this year's UN human rights campaign is "Dignity and justice for all of us--a fitting motto, based on the most fundamental concept expressed in the preamble of the Declaration, 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...."

To show their support for this initiative, Scientologists commemorated Human Rights Day with events, activities and concerts, to educate their communities on the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Award winning Australian pop vocalist, Scientologist Kate Ceberano, entertained crowds at Federation Square in Melbourne at a human rights concert where Hugh Evans, director of the Oaktree Foundation and producer of the "Make Poverty History Concert" was honored with a human rights advocate award. At nearby Philip Island the Church sponsored a human rights art competition, and in Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Scientologists participated in an event that was jointly hosted by the local chapter of Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) ) (www.youthforhumanrights.org) , the Aboriginal Youth For Human Rights and the National Indigenous Human Rights Congress of Australia, which featured YHRI's human rights public service announcements that educate people on the core concepts in the Universal Declaration.

In Auckland, New Zealand, Youth for Human Rights of New Zealand participated the Human Rights Network event on the topic of indigenous rights.

In South Africa, Scientologists promoted human rights with an interview on the "Voice of the Cape Radio".

In the United States, the Church of Scientology of New York participated in a human rights event co-produced with the International Front on Human Rights.

In Washington DC, the Founding Church of Scientology joined the Women's Freedom Forum, the American Friends Service Committee's Peace and Economic Justice program and the Court Services and Offenders Supervision Agency at an event promoting Human Rights Day at the National Press Club.

In Los Angeles the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre International hosted an Inter-Religious Conference where Muslims, Buddhists and Christians joined educators and civic leaders in forming a coalition to promote human rights in their city.

In Buffalo, New York, the Scientology Church hosted its city's human rights celebration, attended by local officials, representatives from the mayor's office, churches and human rights groups.

In Taiwan, the Church held a petition-signing event in conjunction with the Chinese Association for International Human Rights, to promote human rights education in schools.

Scientologists manned tents and booths and passed out flyers in Berlin, in Town Hall Square in Copenhagen and at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

In Greece, seven national TV stations aired the Youth for Human Rights public service announcements.

In Brussels, the Church of Scientology International European Human Rights Office hosted an event where European and local politicians, NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and representatives of various religious communities joined the Church in honoring Roman Catholic priest Father Van Der Biest with a human rights award for his 54 years of work, fighting for human dignity.

Russian Scientologists in Moscow circulated human rights petitions and held meetings with government officials and NGOs to map out plans for full implementation of the Universal Declaration in that country.

The work of Scientologists in support of human rights is a reflection of one of the most basic beliefs of the Scientology religion. In 1954 L. Ron Hubbard emphasized this when he began the Creed of the Church of Scientology with the statement: "We of the Church believe that all men of whatever race, color, or creed were created with equal rights."