The event, held at Press Club Brussels and livestreamed worldwide on YouTube, marked the official release of Humanists International’s flagship annual publication. The report documents discrimination and persecution faced by humanists, atheists, and the non-religious across the globe.
Humanists International was joined by Katarina Barley, Vice-President of the European Parliament, and Ellis Mathews, Head of the Human Rights Division at the European External Action Service, to discuss the report’s findings and the growing challenges facing freedom of thought internationally.
This year’s report explores how governments are increasingly using religion to justify repression and undermine human rights. While some countries have become more accepting of the non-religious and have adopted progressive policies, an increasing number of governments are undertaking authoritarian practices at the expense of the non-religious and religious minorities.
Maggie Ardiente, President of Humanists International
Maggie Ardiente, President of Humanists International, said: “It is an honor to be with you here today to launch the 14th edition of our Freedom of Thought Report. Since its inception in 2012, which I had the great privilege of being involved in through my leadership at the American Humanist Association in Washington DC, the Freedom of Thought Report has served as a unique and vital barometer for human rights.”
The launch featured several special video contributions from prominent figures working to defend freedom of thought worldwide. Nazila Ghanea, United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, delivered a recorded message emphasizing the importance of protecting freedom of belief as a universal human right.
U.S. Congressman and humanist Jared Huffman also joined via video, describing the report as a “roadmap” for understanding how freedom of thought is evolving globally.
Human rights activist Mubarak Bala, former President of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, also addressed the audience via video message. Drawing on his experience of spending more than four years in prison for blasphemy, he spoke about the realities faced by non-religious people in Nigeria.
Gary McLelland, Chief Executive of Humanists International
Gary McLelland, Chief Executive of Humanists International, said: “The report specifically captures and documents instances of discrimination by state authorities. Our research, year after year, finds that the overwhelming of majority of countries fail to respect the rights of humanists and non-religious people. Any rights violations and discrimination is important even when only a small number of people are affected. However, the non-religious are not a small group. Those who consider themselves to be non-religious constitute a large and growing population in the world.”
The Freedom of Thought Report is published annually by Humanists International and remains one of the most comprehensive global surveys of discrimination and persecution against the non-religious.
The 2025 Key Countries edition provides detailed analysis of recent developments in Bangladesh, El Salvador, Georgia, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Malta, Myanmar, Sudan, and the United States.
The full launch event is available to watch on YouTube and the Freedom of Thought Report 2025 is available to read online.
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