BRUSSELS, Belgium — 19 February 2026 — The Church of Scientology’s European Office for Public Affairs and Human Rights has launched a new online, plain-language youth guide titled “Europe’s Values, Your Rights”, presented as an educational resource that links readers to official EU and Council of Europe sources. The announcement is detailed in this launch update at Scientology Europe.
The guide is designed to help young adults understand the main European rights frameworks by clearly separating what is covered by the European Union’s legal framework and what falls under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). It explains the core EU values set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union: human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, and connects them to everyday examples.
A central section introduces the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, describing its role as a legally binding text for European Union bodies and for EU countries when applying EU rules. In parallel, the guide outlines the ECHR as a Council of Europe treaty supervised by the Strasbourg Court, while noting that the site is for educational purposes and not legal advice. The initiative also includes a brief quiz format and a “civic toolkit” pointing to established European participation mechanisms, such as petitions, consultations and citizens’ initiatives.
The launch is presented as part of a longer-running engagement by the Brussels-based Office. The organisation notes that it has maintained a human rights office in Brussels since 1990, which has evolved over time and has served as a focal point for programmes intended to inform the public about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the practical relevance of its principles in everyday life.
In describing its mission, the Office references its governing statutes as a religious, non-profit entity operating within European legal and human-rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The statutes also refer to engagement consistent with Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and to alignment with European values such as human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law and human rights.
The guide further links the values-and-rights discussion to ongoing community initiatives referenced by Scientology Europe, including human rights education, drug-prevention education, volunteer-based community support, and other social betterment activities described as aimed at strengthening civic responsibility and social cohesion. The initiative notes that these programmes are inspired by the work of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard (Scientology’s founder) and implemented locally by Scientology communities and partners.
Ivan Arjona, the Church of Scientology’s representative to the EU, OSCE, Council of Europe and UN, said: “A rights culture grows when people can clearly understand the values Europe stands for and act on them peacefully and responsibly. This guide is designed to support civic understanding—helping young adults distinguish the key instruments, the competent institutions, and the appropriate pathways in different situations while keeping the focus on human dignity, freedom, equality, rule of law and human rights.”
The Church of Scientology, its churches, missions, groups and members are present across the European continent. Scientology Europe news euro 2024 reports a continent-wide presence through more than 140 churches, missions and affiliated groups in at least 27 European nations, alongside thousands of community-based social betterment and reform initiatives focused on education, prevention and neighbourhood-level support, inspired by the work of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.
Within Europe’s diverse national frameworks for religion, the Church’s recognitions continue to expand, with administrative and judicial authorities in Spain, Portugal, Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany Slovakia and others, as well as the European Court of Human Rights, having addressed and acknowledged Scientology communities as protected by the national and international provisions of Freedom of Religion or belief.