Human Rights and Tolerance Organization

The Human Rights and Tolerance Organization (Italian: Organizzazione per i Diritti Umani e la Tolleranza ETS, also known as Associazione per i diritti umani e la tolleranza onlus) is an Italian non-profit association founded on 10 December 2004. Its stated mission is to spread the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights so that it becomes the charter on which agreements between nations and peoples are founded. The organization has held consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 2017. The organization is the Italian national spokesperson for the projects "Youth for Human Rights" and "United for Human Rights," both of which are Scientology-backed human rights education initiatives. It runs a free online course on human rights that introduces the Universal Declaration and its articles. Its humanitarian projects include United for Africa, which builds schools and provides educational and medical aid in Ghana, and United for Tibetans, which supports the Tibetan Children's Village in Dharamsala, India. The organization was founded by members of the Church of Scientology, and its president is the Scientologist Franco Baragetti. The United for Africa project was launched in December 2006 with a charity concert at the Dal Verme Theatre in Milan, in celebration of the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Critics, including those who scrutinize Scientology-linked groups, describe the organization as a "front group" intended to covertly spread Scientology's religious ideals in secular contexts, recruit new followers, and lend legitimacy to the Church. The organization continues to be active, announcing events such as a 9 December 2025 meeting at the United Nations in Geneva titled "Human Rights and Peace: Better Together."

The Human Rights and Tolerance Organization was constituted on 10 December 2004, deliberately chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was promulgated by the United Nations on 10 December 1948. The founding members were associated with the Church of Scientology. The organization's stated purpose is to disseminate the principles of the Universal Declaration so that it becomes the charter on which agreements between nations and peoples are founded, and to ensure that its articles are applied to every man, woman, and child. In December 2006, the organization launched its United for Africa project with a charity concert at the Dal Verme Theatre in Milan, celebrating the anniversary of the Universal Declaration. The project, carried out with the Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology, aimed to build schools and provide medical aid in Ghana. Over the years, the organization visited 16 villages in the Eastern, Central, and Northern regions of Ghana, reaching 84 schools in the Central Region. It contributed to expanding the Oxford International School in Accra in 2008, built a school in Twewaa in 2010, in Asukese in 2013, in Kenyankor in 2017, and in Domoki and Brahabeku in 2021. The organization also runs the United for Tibetans project, which supports the Tibetan cause and has provided aid to the Tibetan Children's Village in Dharamsala, India. It translated the booklet "What Are Human Rights?" and the Youth for Human Rights Educator Guide into Tibetan, distributing over 35,000 booklets and 400 educator guides, reaching over 60,000 people. Jetsun Pema, sister of the Dalai Lama, was awarded "Hero for Human Rights" by the organization. In 2017, the organization obtained consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It serves as the Italian national spokesperson for the projects "Youth for Human Rights" and "United for Human Rights." The organization continues to promote human rights education through a free online course and public events, including a planned meeting at the United Nations in Geneva on 9 December 2025 titled "Human Rights and Peace: Better Together."

• Organization constituted on the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

• United for Africa project launched with a charity concert at the Dal Verme Theatre in Milan.

• Contributed to expanding the Oxford International School in Accra, Ghana.

• Built a school in Twewaa, Eastern Region, Ghana.

• Built a school in Asukese, Afraim Plains, Ghana.

• Obtained consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

• Built a school in Kenyankor, Central Region, Ghana.

• Built a school in Domoki and Brahabeku, Central Region, Ghana.

• Announced meeting at the United Nations in Geneva titled "Human Rights and Peace: Better Together."

Non-profit human rights education and humanitarian aid organization, affiliated with the Church of Scientology.

• Free online human rights course

  An interactive course introducing human rights and the Universal Declaration, covering every article.

• Youth for Human Rights

  Educational project to teach young people about human rights worldwide.

• United for Human Rights

  Human rights education and awareness project.

• United for Africa

  Humanitarian project building schools and providing aid in Ghana.

• United for Tibetans

  Project supporting the Tibetan cause and the Tibetan Children's Village in Dharamsala, India.

1. 1Diritti Umani e Tolleranzadirittiumanietolleranza.org
2. 2CHI SIAMO – Diritti Umani e Tolleranzadirittiumanietolleranza.org
3. 3United for Tibetans – Diritti Umani e Tolleranzadirittiumanietolleranza.org
4. 4Progetto United for Africa – Diritti Umani e Tolleranzadirittiumanietolleranza.org
5. 5Human Rights and Tolerance Organizationwikidata.org
6. 6Associazione per i diritti umani e la tolleranza onlusit.wikipedia.org