Celebrating 77th Anniversary of Human Rights at UN Geneva

“Human Rights and Peace – Better Together” Conference Puts Education and Cooperation at the Heart of Lasting Peace

Conference at the Palais des Nations, promoted by Organizzazione per i Diritti Umani e la Tolleranza, explores the inseparable link between human rights and peace

GENEVA, Switzerland – The Palais des Nations in Geneva has hosted the international conference “Human Rights and Peace – Better Together”, promoted by Organizzazione per i Diritti Umani e la Tolleranza, a non-governmental organization holding consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 2017, partnering with Dr Mary Shuttleworth of United for Human Rights, and with Fundacion para la Mejora de la Vida la Cultura y la Socieded. The event brought together experts, academics, institutional representatives, educators and civil-society organizations to highlight the indivisible connection between human rights protection and the construction of sustainable peace.

Held at the heart of the UN human-rights system, the conference underscored that peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice, equity, inclusion and mutual respect. Throughout the day, participants examined how integrating human rights into education, public policy and community life is essential to preventing violence, fostering social cohesion and consolidating trust in democratic institutions.

From human-rights violations to inclusive policies

The discussions opened with a broad overview of current human-rights challenges, including persistent discrimination, social exclusion and abuses that continue to affect some of the most vulnerable communities. Speakers drew attention to the situation of migrants and refugees, minorities, young people at risk and those facing barriers to participation in social, cultural or economic life.

Contributors stressed that these issues cannot be addressed in isolation. They called for policies that tackle the root causes of inequality, promote equal access to opportunities and ensure that institutions remain accountable to the people they serve. The conference pointed to international and regional human-rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as practical frameworks for guiding policy choices at national and local levels.

Morning session: education as a foundation for peace

The morning session was opened by Fiorella Cerchiara, President of Organizzazione per i Diritti Umani e la Tolleranza, together with representatives from the scientific, academic and educational sectors. In their introductory remarks, they underlined the transformative power of human rights education in shaping more just and resilient societies.

The session focused on the dissemination of human rights through training programmes implemented in schools, universities and non-formal learning environments around the world. Speakers shared examples of curricula, teacher-training initiatives and youth projects that help students understand their own rights and responsibilities, recognise discrimination, and stand up for the rights of others.

Participants agreed that education is not an “add-on” but a central pillar of peacebuilding: when young people learn to connect rights with everyday situations – from online behaviour to local decision-making – they become key actors in preventing violence and fostering dialogue.

“Thinking Freely”: protecting freedom of thought and belief

A dedicated panel, “Thinking Freely”, examined contemporary challenges related to freedom of thought, conscience and belief. It was chaired by Ivan Arjona-Pelado, President of the European Office of the Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights. Panellists analysed how social polarisation, stereotypes, hate speech and misinformation can undermine fundamental freedoms and erode trust between different communities. Among the speakers of this panel were Prof. Cristiana Cianitto – Research Center on Religious and Belief Minorities in Contemporary Legal Systems, University of Milan, ATLAS Project; Dott. Perparim Uxhi – Fondazione Fscire, ATLAS Project and Dr. Amjad Saleem, Manager for Strategic Engagement on Youth and Peace at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

The discussion highlighted the need for effective legal protections and for practical tools to defend these freedoms in daily life. Participants emphasised the importance of cooperation between institutions, independent authorities, educational actors and civil society to promote a culture in which individuals can think, believe, question and express themselves without fear of discrimination or reprisals.

The panel also pointed to good practices where dialogue platforms and local mediation initiatives have helped to defuse tensions, encourage mutual understanding and ensure that the rights of all beliefs – religious and non-religious – are respected.

“Bridges of Cooperation”: local testimonies, global impact

In the afternoon, the conference turned to the role of organizations engaged in the promotion of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to the creation of alliances that reinforce social resilience. The panel “Bridges of Cooperation” focused on how multidisciplinary partnerships can translate principles into concrete improvements in people’s lives.

Cultural mediators, community leaders and representatives of non-governmental organizations shared testimonies from different regions, showing how local projects – from intercultural dialogue forums to community-based human rights workshops – can contribute tangibly to peace, solidarity and social inclusion.

These contributions illustrated that cooperation across sectors is essential: when schools, municipalities, NGOs, international agencies and community groups work together, human-rights standards become living instruments, adapted to specific cultural and social contexts.

The conference concluded with a networking session, consolidating the exchanges initiated during the panels and opening new avenues for collaboration between participants at local, national and international level.

European perspective: a shared responsibility

Reflecting on the outcomes of the conference, Ivan Arjona, representative of the Church of Scientology to the European Union, OSCE, Council of Europe and United Nations, stated:

“A meeting like this, inside the Palais des Nations, is a reminder that human rights and peace are not abstract concepts but shared responsibilities. When educators, civil-society organizations and public institutions work together, they give real substance to the European commitment to human dignity, freedom of conscience and equality before the law. For many belief and non-belief communities across Europe, contributing to human rights education is a concrete way to support social cohesion and a more peaceful future for all.”

His remarks echoed the broader European consensus that effective human-rights protection is closely linked to inclusive policies, active citizenship and respect for diversity, both within and beyond the continent’s borders.

Background: human-rights education and the Church of Scientology

Over the years, members of the Church of Scientology have developed human-rights education projects in cooperation with schools, municipalities, associations, business, churches, and a wide range of partners. In some contexts, this has included cooperation with faith and belief communities that share a commitment to human-rights education and to the values enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Among these actors, the Church of Scientology has supported numerous human-rights awareness campaigns and educational initiatives in Europe and worldwide. This engagement is rooted in the outlook of its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, who emphasised that human rights should be made a practical reality for every individual, rather than remain a distant ideal.

The Geneva conference, conceived and led by Organizzazione per i Diritti Umani e la Tolleranza, forms part of a broader ecosystem in which secular and faith-based stakeholders, including Scientologists, work in parallel and sometimes together to advance knowledge of human rights and to foster dialogue across cultures and beliefs.

About the Church of Scientology in Europe

The Church of Scientology, founded in the early 1950s by author and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard, is present with over 11000 churches, missions, and groups worldwide, and with a strong presence throughout the European continent counting more than 140 churches and missions in at least 27 European nations, together with tons of communities of Scientologists and social-betterment groups. Across Europe, its members support initiatives in the fields of human rights education, drug prevention, moral education, and volunteer work, often in cooperation with public bodies and civil-society partners.

Recognition of Scientology as a charitable and bona fide religion has grown steadily over recent decades, with churches and missions obtaining various forms of legal recognition and religious or public-benefit status in a number of European states. The Church of Scientology, its missions, groups and members continue to contribute to education, prevention, and community-betterment efforts, working alongside others to uphold fundamental rights, dignity, and the rule of law.

Media Contact

Organization: European Office Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights

Contact Person: Ivan Arjona

Website: https://www.scientologyeurope.org

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City: Brussels

State: Brussels

Country:Belgium

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