Brussels, Brussels, Belgium, 12th Dec 2024 – On the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a noteworthy panel discussion at the Palais des Nations reaffirmed the significance of Article 18, which safeguards freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. The event, entitled “Law and Article 18,” brought together leading experts to discuss the significance of religious freedom in an increasingly diverse world. 

At the core of this assembly was the pivotal role played by Associazione per i diritti umani e la tolleranza, which, under the presidency of Fiorella Cerchiara, champions the campaigns of Youth for Human Rights and United for Human Rights in Italy and brings together a full-day UDHR anniversary event to the United Nations. Fundacion Mejora, a co-organizer of the event and led by Scientology Europe representative Ivan Arjona, was tasked with putting together the panel on Freedom of Religion or Belief.

A Platform for Unity and Dialogue

The event, organized by Associazione per i Diritti Umani e la Tolleranza and Fundacion Mejora, demonstrated the efficacy of interfaith dialogue and collaboration as instruments for the protection of freedom of belief. Mr. Arjona, President of UN ECOSOC accredited Fundacion Mejora and Scientology representative to the European institutions and the UN, presided over the panel and established an inclusive and forward-thinking tone.

In his opening remarks, Arjona asserted that freedom of religion or belief is not merely a personal right, but rather a fundamental human right that intersects with all other human rights. “On whose authority is one to be told what one’s religion is?” The answer is that nobody but the individual in question has the authority to make that determination. It is therefore imperative that Article 18 is applied and interpreted in a broad manner.

During his tenure, the panel was able to bring together a number of distinguished voices. The panel included Prof. Maria d’Arienzo, full professor on Law and Religion for the University Federico II of Naples; Dr. Saba Haddad of the Bahá’í International Community; Dr. Boumediane Benyahia, an Islamologist; and Jonas Fiebrantz from ADF International. In their discussion, the participants examined the complex challenges and opportunities associated with the promotion of freedom of religion or belief on a global scale.

The Church of Scientology, through its European office and Fundacion Mejora, has a long history of advocating for human rights, engaging with international institutions to promote religious freedom. Arjona’s role serves to exemplify this commitment, as he is adept at facilitating communication between grassroots initiatives, faith groups, and global policymaking bodies.

This event served as an exemplar of Scientology’s capacity to convene a diverse array of stakeholders, facilitating a discourse that transcends cultural and religious boundaries. “Human rights require not just minor adjustments but rather a coordinated effort to achieve meaningful change,” Arjona stated, emphasizing the significance of collaboration in addressing global challenges.

The panelists’ contributions highlighted the crucial importance of inclusive dialogue in the advancement of human rights.

Maria d’Arienzo provided a legal analysis of Article 18, noting the inconsistent application of religious freedoms across jurisdictions. She underscored the necessity of asylum protections and more robust legal frameworks to address religious persecution.

Dr. Saba Haddad underscored the capacity of education to facilitate the advancement of inclusion and the overcoming of prejudice. “Freedom of belief is a prerequisite for a thriving and peaceful society,” she stated, citing the Bahá’í community’s grassroots initiatives to address caste, gender, and racial inequalities.

Dr. Boumediane Benyahia posited that diversity is a divine principle and advocated for its integration into educational and policymaking processes. “Diversity is not open to negotiation. Peace is not open to negotiation,” he stated emphatically.

Jonas Fiebrantz proceeded to delineate a series of actionable strategies for advocacy, with a particular focus on the success of ADF International in influencing international resolutions and legal cases. “Creative engagement is essential for achieving tangible impact for those on the ground,” he stated.

While each speaker contributed unique insights, a common thread emerged: the necessity for collaboration, education, and legal protections to uphold freedom of religion or belief.

The Scientology Model of Engagement

The Church of Scientology’s proactive approach to human rights advocacy is firmly grounded in its guiding principles, and in apply the precept to “Set a Good Example”, as called for by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard in his non-religious moral guide “The Way to Happiness”. Initiatives such as the Fundación Mejora and the Church of Scientology’s active participation in Freedom of Religion or Belief initiatives demonstrate a consistent effort to participate and establish platforms where diverse voices can converge to address urgent issues.

Convening this panel represents a broader strategy of fostering interfaith dialogue and promoting shared human values. By leveraging its extensive global network and unwavering commitment to human rights, the Scientology organization has become a pivotal player in the advancement of freedom of belief for all.

A Call to Action

The event at the Palais des Nations served both as a celebration of progress and as a reminder of the work that remains to be done. In conclusion, Arjona offered an inspiring message. “It is imperative that all stakeholders—state actors, faith groups, civil society organizations, and individuals—recognize their respective roles and responsibilities. Together, we can make freedom of religion and belief a lived reality for all.“

As the UDHR enters its 77th year, the Church of Scientology’s efforts show the power of collaboration in defending and advancing human rights. By bringing together diverse voices and perspectives, Scientology continues to champion the principles of Article 18, ensuring that freedom of belief remains a cornerstone of global human dignity.

Media Contact

Organization: European Office Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights

Contact Person: Ivan Arjona

Website: https://www.europeanaffairs.eu

Email: Send Email

Address: Boulevard de Waterloo 103

City: Brussels

State: Brussels

Country: Belgium

Release Id: 12122421294

The post From Advocacy to Action: Scientology’s Role in Defending Freedom of Religion at the 76th Anniversary of the UDHR appeared on King Newswire. It is provided by a third-party content provider. King Newswire makes no warranties or representations in connection with it.

OceanPay raised $10 million in a Series B round led by BlackPine, QCP Capital, and Tally Capital. The platform combines traditional payment methods with blockchain technology and offers a social platform with educational resources. Previously, it raised $5 million in Series A. The new funding will support expansion, technology upgrades, and new features.

London, 23 Paul Street, United Kingdom, 12th Dec 2024 – OceanPay, an international payment card platform integrated with MasterCard, has announced the successful completion of a $10 million Series B funding round. The round was led by three strategic investors: BlackPine, QCP Capital, and Tally Capital.  

OceanPay’s flagship product is an international payment card that combines traditional payment methods with modern blockchain technology. Additionally, OceanPay has developed a unique social platform that encourages user interaction while providing valuable educational resources to enhance financial literacy within the community.  

Previously, OceanPay secured $5 million in its Series A funding round, showcasing its strong growth potential in the global payment market.  

With the new investment from Series B, OceanPay plans to expand its operations, upgrade its technology, and develop new features, further solidifying its position in the digital payment and blockchain sectors.

Media Contact

Organization: CRITIX

Contact Person: VICTOR L. BAKER

Website: https://oceanpay.io/

Email: Send Email

Address: 23 Paul Street, London

City: London

State: 23 Paul Street

Country: United Kingdom

Release Id: 12122421290

The post OceanPay Successfully Raises $10 Million in Series B Funding Round appeared on King Newswire. It is provided by a third-party content provider. King Newswire makes no warranties or representations in connection with it.

We are excited to announce the official launch of the commercial version of OORT DataHub, a revolutionary platform that will revolutionize the way data is collected and labeled for AI model training. This important milestone is a key step in the development of the OORT ecosystem and the decentralized AI space. Starting December 11th, OORT DataHub will be fully open for business, providing enterprises, developers, and researchers with a trusted decentralized solution for data collection on a global scale.

DataHub: A Key Component of the OORT Ecosystem

OORT DataHub is Oortech’s second decentralized AI solution after Edge Device, the node of its distributed storage solution, OORT Storage. Both products serve as the foundation of the OORT ecosystem, driving the advancement of blockchain-based AI solutions.

“Trusted, traceable data will be the bottleneck in the next phase of AI competition, and the OORT DataHub is built to solve this problem,” said Dr. Max Li, Professor at Columbia University and Founder and CEO of Oortech.

A New Era of Data and AI

OORT DataHub is a decentralized platform that provides developers, enterprises and researchers with innovative tools for large-scale data collection and annotation. By leveraging the decentralized infrastructure of the OORT ecosystem, the platform promotes data transparency, user privacy and secure collaboration on a global scale.

Core features and benefits of OORT DataHub:

● Decentralized data collection: eliminating the middleman for a more secure, transparent and user-controlled data collection process.
● Global Participation, Reduced Costs: Supporting organizations and individuals around the world to participate in data collection, generating diverse and representative datasets.
● Promote the development of trustworthy AI: Blockchain integration improves data integrity, reduces the risk of manipulation, and promotes the construction of an ethical, socially responsible AI ecosystem.

What’s Next for OORT

As we continue to move towards the full realization of a decentralized AI ecosystem with the commercialization of OORT DataHub, OORT will be launching the OORT DataHub Mini App in a few days, which will seamlessly integrate with Telegram’s Mini App platform.

Through the Mini App:

● Allow users to easily contribute data and participate in decentralized data collection in Telegram.
● Leverage Telegram’s global user base to expand the OORT ecosystem and increase user engagement.
● Provide an easy, user-friendly interface for new and existing contributors to promote adoption and collaboration.

By combining the power of the OORT DataHub and Mini App, OORT will open up new opportunities to expand its vision of decentralized AI, inviting a broader audience to join the movement of credible and ethical AI innovation.

Shape the future with us

The launch of the commercial version of OORT DataHub opens a new chapter in decentralized AI. We welcome customers, developers and partners to join us in exploring this groundbreaking platform for data-driven AI innovation.

Join us in driving the future of trusted, transparent and decentralized AI!

To learn more, visit the OORT DataHub.

Stay tuned for updates as we continue to expand the OORT ecosystem and revolutionize the AI world.

About OORT

OORT is a pioneer in the era of decentralized AI, building a trusted decentralized infrastructure for the AI era. Based on the Olympus protocol, OORT offers three major decentralized AI products for enterprise and individual customers: OORT Storage, OORT Data Center (B2C, B2B), and soon OORT Compute.OORT has raised $10M in funding.

Media Contact

Organization: OORT Ltd

Contact Person: Ruby Brown

Website: https://www.oortech.com/

Email: Send Email

Country: United States

Release Id: 12122421285

The post OORT DataHub Business Edition Goes Live: Pioneering the Future of Decentralized AI appeared on King Newswire. It is provided by a third-party content provider. King Newswire makes no warranties or representations in connection with it.