Churches of Scientology and chapters of the Church-supported United for Human Rights and its program for young people, Youth for Human Rights, marked International Human Rights Day December 10 with a wide variety of observances in 40 nations.

The day that honors creation of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948, brought together thousands of young people and mayors, city council members and civic leaders, state and federal legislators, law enforcement officers, teachers and human rights advocates to celebrate and raise awareness of the premier human rights document still little-known after 67 years.

Human Rights Day 2015 also launched a year-long U.N. campaign to draw attention to the 50th anniversary of the two International Covenants on Human Rights that grew out of the Universal Declaration. 

Scientologists and members of numerous other religions joined government and nongovernmental officials in compliance to this directive issued from U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: “On Human Rights Day, let us recommit to guaranteeing the fundamental freedoms and protecting the human rights of all.”

On six continents, human rights advocates championed the inalienable rights laid out by these documents, from the United States to Australia, Venezuela to Japan, Europe, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Africa and throughout South Asia.

This year’s U.N .celebration emphasized the four freedoms that form the core of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: freedom from fear, freedom of speech, freedom of worship and freedom from want, and that theme was celebrated worldwide.

In the spirit of the day, the Youth for Human Rights team in Chennai, India, brought food to victims of the devastating floods in southern India. 

In Bangladesh, Youth for Human Rights and the National Human Rights Commission collaborated on a Walk for Human Rights through Bangladeshi streets, lofting banners proclaiming “Our Rights, Our Freedoms, Always.” 

The Church of Scientology Kaohsiung partnered with the Kaohsiung City Civil Affairs Bureau to host a Youth for Human Rights painting competition joined by a Yuan legislator and the Kaohsiung Police Department’s Lin-Yuan branch. Human rights-themed paintings by dozens of young people were displayed in the Church’s Public Information Center. 

Youth for Human Rights Tlaxcala, Mexico, held its Human Rights Walk at the Escalinatas de los Heroes (“Heroes Staircase”) in the state’s capital, with human rights heroes marching through the streets reciting the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration. Newspapers, magazines and TV stations spread the message far and wide.

And in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, human rights awards were presented at the Ontario Science Centre, introduced by a Toronto City Councillor and a personal message from the Ontario Premier: “I commend the Youth for Human Rights Toronto Chapter for its commitment to educating young people about human rights and inspiring them to become advocates for peace.” 

Scientologists on six continents partner 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. Youth for Human Rights was established in 2002 under the Human Rights Department of Church of Scientology International and has grown to hundreds of chapters worldwide, with an annual Youth Summit in Brussels, Geneva or New York, and a World Tour led by YHRI co-founder Dr. Mary Shuttleworth.