Graduates of the Church of Scientology Milan’s “United for Human Rights” program prepare to expand their human rights education projects in northern Italy
KINGNEWSWIRE // PRESS RELEASE // MILAN, ITALY — In recent days, the Church of Scientology of Milan hosted a special meeting on human rights organized by the Diritti Umani and Tolleranza association (recognized with UN ECOSOC Consultative Status), bringing together representatives of the Latin American and African communities living in northern Italy for an evening of training, recognition and dialogue on Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The event was led by Fiorella Cerchiara, president of the association, who welcomed the participants and highlighted the need for practical human rights education within Milan’s diverse communities.
Participants — community leaders, association representatives and volunteers — were honored for completing the full study of “Uniti per i Diritti Umani,” the Italian version of the international book United for Human Rights Educational Program. The course introduces the 30 articles of the UDHR through accessible materials, short films, and practical tools designed for use in schools, youth groups, and neighborhood initiatives.
From study to action in Milan’s multicultural communities
Once qualified, representatives are now equipped to introduce the program into their own communities, churches, cultural associations and informal networks. Several participants presented projects for workshops with young people, information meetings for parents and collaborative activities with local institutions.
The event took place in a city where the issues of coexistence and equal rights have a very concrete meaning. According to official data from the Municipality of Milan, more than 300,000 of the city’s 1.4 million residents are foreign nationals, representing just over 21 percent of the population. In a wider area, data for the Metropolitan City of Milan indicates around 487,000 foreign residents, or around 15 percent of the local population.
At the national level, Italian demographic statistics and reports show that the country hosts around 5.4 million foreign residents, or around 9% of the population, confirming that foreign nationals play an important role in the country’s demographic balance. These figures have been highlighted in recent analyzes of Italy’s demographic trends, where foreign residents are helping to offset falling birth rates and an aging population.
Across the European Union, the overall picture reflects persistent challenges. A recent Eurobarometer Survey on Discrimination found that the majority of respondents perceive discrimination based on being Roma, skin color or ethnic origin to be widespread in their country. At the same time, the EU Fundamental Rights Agency has documented these realities in detail; It’s latest ‘Being Black in the EU’ report details widespread racism and discrimination faced by people of African descent, including high levels of harassment and racial profiling.
The Council of Europe’s anti-racist body, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), has also called on European states to combat racial profiling by law enforcement and the segregation of Roma children in schools. Italy is one of the countries encouraged to strengthen guarantees in these areas. In this context, the organizers of the Milan event highlighted the importance of equipping local leaders with clear and accessible human rights tools, which can be used directly in their own language and cultural context.
“United for Human Rights”: a secular program supported by Scientologists
The “Uniti per i Diritti Umani” materials used in the Milan course are part of United for Human Rights, a non-profit secular educational initiative that provides educators, community groups and institutions with brochures, public service videos and comprehensive teaching guides on the UDHR in multiple languages. The program is dedicated to the implementation of the Universal Declaration at local, regional, national and international levels.
These resources are proudly sponsored by the Church of Scientology and Scientologists, but are designed for use by people of any faith or no faith and are widely used by schools, associations, human rights organizations, and training programs in various countries. The Milan initiative is also part of other European efforts in this area, such as the Council of Europe’s Compass Manual for Human Rights Education for Young People and educational portals at European level that promote human rights and citizenship education among teachers and young people across the continent.
A European perspective: transforming principles into daily practice
In a message commenting on the initiative, Ivan Arjonare, representative of the Church of Scientology to the European Union, OSCE, Council of Europe and United Nations, linked Milan’s graduation to broader European concerns:
“Across Europe, we see how issues of migration, integration and discrimination are testing our commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. » said Arjona. “What happened in Milan shows a very practical response: community leaders – many of whom are migrants themselves – study the 30 articles of the UDHR and then return home with concrete tools to explain them to children, parents and neighbors. This is how human rights stop being abstract and become an everyday practice in our cities.”
Arjona added: “At the European level, there is a strong consensus on the importance of human rights education. This type of work at the local level complements what the Council of Europe, EU institutions and national authorities are trying to achieve: societies where everyone, regardless of their origin, is treated with dignity and has equal opportunities to participate.”
Scientology’s work for human rights in Europe
Human rights education has long been a priority for the Scientology community. Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard said, “Human rights must become a reality, not an idealistic dream,” a quote cited in the Church’s human rights documents and programs.
In 2003, the Church of Scientology International established its European Office for Public Affairs and Human Rights in Brussels, which in 2018 subsequently became an EU-recognized religious organization through the Spanish Ministry of the Presidency and the EU Transparency Register and which serves as a focal point for cooperation with institutions, NGOs and religious communities on issues such as freedom of religion or belief, anti-discrimination and education for human rights. The office operates from Waterloo Boulevard in Brussels and is listed in public registers and event listings, including EU-focused directories and the Churches of Scientology for Europe website.
Today, Scientology churches, missions and groups across the European continent support United for Human Rights and its youth arm, Youth for Human Rights International, by organizing conferences, school presentations and community events, including those marking key dates such as Human Rights Day on December 10.
The Church of Scientology is a contemporary religion founded by L. Ron Hubbard in the 1950s. The first Church of Scientology was founded in Los Angeles in 1954, and the movement has since spread to thousands of churches, missions, and related groups around the world. It unites more than 11,000 Scientology churches, missions, related organizations and affiliated groups in more than 165 countries.
In Europe, Scientology has a presence through more than 140 churches, missions and community groups and thousands of social improvement and reform groups in many member states, including a central center in Brussels serving European institutions and international organizations. The Church has been recognized as a religion in a number of jurisdictions, including Spain, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden, Portugal, Greece, the ECHR and many more.
The Church of Scientology, its missions, groups and members are present throughout the European continent, engaged in education, prevention and community improvement activities. Their support for secular initiatives such as United for Human Rights, Youth for Human Rights International, The Road to Happiness and the Drug-Free World Foundation reflects a long-term commitment to strengthening communities, promoting dignity and contributing to universal human rights values.
Originally published in The European Times.
source link eu news
