When it comes to human rights, Scientologists in Spain are translating their beliefs into action.
 | | Mr. Joaquin Antuja, President and Founder of the Foundation for Peace and Cooperation thanked the Scientologists present and the Church in Madrid for the work they do to promote understanding and peace. |
The Scientology Creed begins with the statement, "We of the Church believe that all men or whatever race, color or creed were created with equal rights." And it was in that spirit that the Church of Scientology of Spain hosted a human rights forum at its Madrid headquarters last month — to accomplish these ideals by providing some of most prominent figures in the field the opportunity to share their ideas and coordinate their activities.
Mr. Joaquin Antuja, President and Founder of the Foundation for Peace and Cooperation, thanked the Scientologists present and the Church in Madrid for the work they do to promote understanding and peace. Mr. Antuja, who was also a guest speaker at the inauguration of the new Church in September 2004, was referring to the Church's support of Youth for Human Rights (YHRI), a program of the International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance, established to educate people in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights so they become valuable advocates for tolerance and peace. Last year the Church of Scientology International produced a series of human rights public service announcements (PSAs) for YHRI and the Foundation for Peace and Cooperation has adopted this campaign.
The rector of the Society of International Studies, a personal advisor to the King of Spain on human rights matters, took up the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in his presentation, stating that governments, organizations and individuals must insist that these rights are upheld for all men and women. He emphasized the first five articles of the Universal Declaration: the recognition that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, the right to life, and the right to freedom from discrimination, slavery and torture.
Mr. Raul Vaquero of the Foundation for Sciences of Documentation praised the quality of the YHRI PSAs. Since he published the 30 PSAs on his foundation's web site there has been a surge in new visitors — 2,000,000 from all over the world.
 | | Mr. Raul Vaquero of the Foundation for Sciences of Documentation praised the quality of these PSAs, which his foundation has published on their web site. |
Speakers also included the president of ARI Peru (Association for Refugees and Immigrants of Peru in Spain), and a professor from San Pablo Ceu University.
"This forum was a great success," said the President of the Church of Scientology of Spain. "There are many people in our country committed to these goals. By working together we can accomplish what L. Ron Hubbard meant when he said, 'human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream.'"
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