Truly it is a shared heritage among religions: the ambition to improve the world of man, to bring peace and succour wherever needed. Although that original intention may sometimes be obscured today, in a world deeply divided by religious conflicts, it can be claimed with considerable justification that religion has served as the primary civilising influence throughout history.

Churches of Scientology share in that same heritage, and have enshrined their commitment to such principles in church scripture. In fact, The Aims of Scientology, first articulated in 1954 by the religion’s founder, L. Ron Hubbard, are:

“A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights....”

In pursuit of these aims, Scientologists have, since the earliest days of the religion, assumed the mantle of responsibility and stepped forward to ensure the fundamental rights and freedoms of all peoples. It is a firm belief amongst Scientologists that a threat to the freedom of any one individual is a threat to the freedoms of all.

Because Scientology places great importance on the individual’s freedom to pursue happiness and develop one’s full potential, it was only natural that members of Scientology churches would embrace the cause of human rights, as articulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Written in answer to the global atrocities of World War II, the Declaration states that, “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.”

A similar axiom underpins the aims of Scientology. Although non-political, Scientology subscribes to the precept that, in the words of L. Ron Hubbard, “a benign government, designed and run for all the people, ... deserves support.” Democracy does by its very nature assume a belief in the essential good intentions of men and women, and their ability to devise rules of constructive and peaceful co-existence. It postulates that individuals should be free to think for themselves and that government is the servant of the people, not its master. Churches of Scientology recognise that the principles of democracy offer an ideological home for human rights, and a platform for their advancement, unparalleled by any other modern form of government.

In half a century of dedicated effort, Scientologists have fought hard to advance not only such human rights as freedom of speech and religion, but to also focus public attention on abuses that some may not at first recognise as, in fact, human rights violations. And while the Church’s own history and experience has shown that standing up for human rights can provoke opposition and hostility, Scientologists assert that there is no other option. Freedom has its price, and complacency leads only to ruin.