Mandela Day in DC: Church of Scientology Leads Community Call to Defend Human Rights

Washington, D.C. – In observance of Nelson Mandela International Day, the Founding Church of Scientology of Washington, D.C. hosted a compelling United for Human Rights Open House, focused on raising awareness and education on the state of human rights both locally and globally.

Chas Smith, Master of Ceremonies for the event, opened with a sobering message: “Most people don’t know what human rights are, let alone that they’re entitled to them. The result is a staggering level of abuse—right here in our own city.”
Statistics shared at the event painted a stark picture. In Washington, D.C. alone:
• 5,138 individuals were experiencing homelessness as of January 2025.
• 798 people sleep outdoors nightly due to limited shelter space.
• The city ranks among the top 14 in the U.S. for commercial sexual exploitation of children, disproportionately affecting Black girls and runaway youth.
• Since 2007, D.C. has confirmed over 1,000 sex trafficking cases, involving 2,102 victims.
The event emphasized that these human rights issues are not distant or historic—they are current and local.
A Global Campaign with Local Reach
The Church of Scientology has promoted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for more than four decades. In 1969, Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard republished the Declaration in Freedom Magazine, emphasizing that “Human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream.”
The Church supports United for Human Rights and Youth for Human Rights International, the world’s largest nongovernmental human rights education initiative. These programs provide:
• Illustrated human rights booklets in 17 languages
• Public service announcements titled “30 Rights, 30 Ads”
• A widely broadcast short film, “The Story of Human Rights”
• Comprehensive educator kits and lesson plans—free of charge
The Open House included screenings of the PSAs and documentary film, as well as an overview of the free materials and educator training available to implement the program in schools, nonprofits, and community centers.
The Founding Church also highlighted its partnerships with organizations such as the U.S. Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights and individual advocates like Travis Ellis, showing the impact of grassroots engagement in advancing awareness and prevention of human rights violations.
Taking Action
Guests were invited to sign up for free human rights education kits and training sessions.
The event closed with the message “We have the tools to help make people aware of their human rights. Now let’s do what it takes in order to make them a reality.” Attendees were urged to carry that message forward in their own communities.
The Founding Church of Scientology of Washington, D.C. continues its commitment to ensuring that human rights are not just taught, but lived—starting right here in the nation's capital.
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Contact:
Chas Smith
External Affairs Director
Founding Church of Scientology of Washington, D.C.
571-235-0518
externalaffairsdc@scientology.net
www.scientology-washingtondc.o...