Church of Scientology International Presents New Human Rights Education Program at Interparliamentary Conference

December 5, 2005

	Church of Scientology International's Human Rights Director, Leisa Goodman

Washington, DC - The Church of Scientology International's Human Rights Director, Leisa Goodman, this week unveiled a new and innovative educational human rights program to parliamentary representatives from 33 countries and 15 embassies as well as to human rights experts, NGOs and religious representatives. The occasion was the 2005 Interparliamentary Conference on Human Rights and Religious Freedom, organized by the Institute on Religion and Public Policy, at which Ms. Goodman attended and spoke.

The presentation, delivered jointly with the President of the International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance, Michelle Seward, has evoked strong interest among lawmakers. Entitled, "Making Human Rights a Global Reality," it features a unique tool for educators -- a new human rights handbook to teach the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to youth. Ms. Goodman also premiered the first three of 30 upcoming public service announcements, each portraying an article of the Declaration.

Released globally last month in association with Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI), the new program builds upon the success of the acclaimed short film UNITED, a powerful human rights music video that has won six awards and has aired to more than 40 million people. YHRI has adopted the music of UNITED, with its anti-discrimination lyrics, as its theme song.

Composed of members of national parliamentarians from around the globe, the third annual Interparliamentary Conference on Human Rights and Religious Freedom brought legislators together to address common issues of human rights and freedom of religion. The Institute's four-day conference included daily sessions covering religion's role in conflict resolution; human rights education; religion, law and terrorism and international poverty and development.

The Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology International, the International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance and Youth for Human Rights International often partner to organize sporting events, public forums and youth summits around the globe to increase awareness about human rights and teach the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.