Speaking during Portugal’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR)*, Miguel Duarte of the Association for Republicanism and Secularism welcomed Portugal’s engagement in the process and its commitment to fundamental rights, including freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and belief. However, he highlighted ongoing concerns about state-sponsored religious influence in public life.
The statement underscored the need for Portuguese public schools to remain neutral spaces for all students, in terms of religion or belief. While Portugal accepted several UPR recommendations on the right to education, humanists raised concerns over the prioritization of religious education over scientific literacy, the continued presence of religious symbols such as crosses in classrooms, and reports of pressure on students to attend religious instruction. Furthermore, they criticized the use of taxpayer money to pay religious education teachers, questioning the fairness of public funds supporting religious instruction.
While welcoming Portugal’s commitment to combating discrimination in public life, the organizations raised concerns about continued financial support for religious entities through tax exemptions and direct subsidies, emphasizing that public funds should serve all citizens equally without religious privilege.
In conclusion, Humanists International and the Association for Republicanism and Secularism urged Portugal to fully uphold its international human rights obligations by ensuring that public institutions operate on democratic principles rather than religious doctrine.
*The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a UN process which involves a periodic review of the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States, by each other. It is a unique human rights mechanism in so far as it addresses all countries and all human rights. The Working Group on the UPR, which is composed of the Human Rights Council’s 47 Member States and chaired by the Human Rights Council President, conducts country reviews. Humanists International supports its members in engagement with the process.
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