FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Church of Scientology New York Celebrates Friendship Day with Human Rights

Friendship Day, July 30, 2013, at the Church of Scientology New York.

Human Rights was the theme July 30 when the Church of Scientology New York hosted a United Nations Friendship Day celebration for Scientology parishioners and community leaders.

International Friendship Day was proclaimed by the UN in the belief that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities.

The event featured a presentation by Asadah Kirkland, author of Beating Black Kids, who is an advocate for children’s rights and an activist against corporal punishment and bullying of children, particularly black children.

Article 5 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states: “No one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” Kirkland made the point that this applies to people of all ages.

The Church of Scientology supports Youth for Human Rights International, an initiative that educates youth on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Youth for Human Rights educational materials include 30 brief informational videos that present the essence of each of the articles of the UDHR in terms young people can understand and relate to.

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.

The Church of Scientology has published the brochure Scientology: How We Help—United for Human Rights, Making Human Rights a Global Reality to meet requests for more information about the human rights education and awareness initiative it supports. To learn more, visit Scientology.org/HumanRights.


Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “Human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream,” and the Scientology religion is based on the principles of human rights. The Code of a Scientologist calls on all members of the religion to dedicate themselves “to support true humanitarian endeavors in the fields of human rights.”