Non-religious ‘too often forgotten’ in community building, Humanists UK tells UN

At the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Humanists UK has called on states to recognise humanist leaders and communities for their role in combating intolerance and in building tolerant, plural societies.

Humanists UK campaigns for an end to discrimination or privilege on grounds of religion or belief. It calls for the value of communities as a whole – rather than exclusively religious communities –  to be recognised, as well as the contributions made by humanists and the non-religious alongside those from religious people. Humanists UK wants to see communities where people of all different backgrounds and beliefs engage and work with each other for the benefit of all. Only in this context can people be positively empowered to make choices about their lives.

However, in many countries across the world, laws that criminalise apostasy (leaving a religion) and blasphemy pose a significant threat to the non-religious, as well as religious minorities. Further, in many countries, threats to the non-religious are not limited to state persecution. Hostility, hatred, and violence, including vigilante justice, can also come from individuals and groups who wish to censor perceived negative discussion, portrayal, or critique of religion. The existence of blasphemy and apostasy laws is used to justify mob violence against ‘non-believers’. However, the non-religious are often forgotten in the discourse on combating intolerance on grounds of religion or belief.

In an intervention delivered to the UNHRC, Humanists UK representative Mariam Sorour highlighted the inconsistent approach taken by authorities worldwide in recognising both the stigmatisation of the non-religious and their contributions to building cohesive communities. She said:

‘We would like to remind states that, alongside their religious counterparts, the non-religious can also be subjected to stigmatisation, discrimination, and violence because of their beliefs, and that non-religious leaders and communities, such as humanists, can also be engaged in implementing solutions.’

Humanists UK called on states to enact and enforce anti-discrimination laws on grounds of religion or belief. It also promoted an inclusive approach to community cohesion, encouraging authorities to engage all religion or belief communities who uphold and promote shared, universal principles of human dignity.