International

International

9 April 2026

Atheist Ireland asks UN to question Ireland about schools, oaths, and religious discrimination

The United Nations is examining Ireland this year under the Universal Periodic Review. This is a unique UN Human Rights Council mechanism, established in 2006, that reviews the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States every four and a half years. Atheist Ireland...

19 November 2025

UK Supreme Court rules religious education and worship breaches parents’ and children’s rights

A Supreme Court judgement in the UK today is of great relevance to the Irish education system, and reinforces the points made by Atheist Ireland in a recent article The right to an objective education goes beyond avoiding ‘faith formation‘. The UK Supreme Court case...

3 November 2025

UN conclusions on religious discrimination in Irish schools

Atheist Ireland uses our special consultative status at the UN to highlight religious discrimination in Irish schools, and to counter inaccurate responses by the Irish state to UN human rights committees. Here are UN human rights recommendations to Ireland based on these sessions. Questions from...

3 November 2025

Council of Europe conclusions on religious discrimination in Irish schools

As well as using our special consultative status at the UN, Atheist Ireland highlights with the Council of Europe the issue of religious discrimination in Irish schools. Here are Council of Europe human rights recommendations to Ireland. Council of Europe Protection of National Minorities 2006,...

17 September 2023

Blasphemy and Freedom of Expression – United Nations Human Rights 75 Pledge by Atheist Ireland

Atheist Ireland has made a pledge to the United Nations Human Rights 75 initiative to oppose laws against blasphemy and promote freedom of expression. 1. Background to Atheist Ireland Atheist Ireland is a voluntary advocacy group based in Ireland. We have Special Consultative Status at...

10 September 2023

Freedom of Religion or Belief – UN Human Rights 75 Pledge by Atheist Ireland

Atheist Ireland has made a pledge to the United Nations Human Rights 75 initiative to promote the consistent use of the full phrase ‘Freedom of Religion or Belief’ instead of the incomplete phrase ‘Freedom of Religion.’ 1. Background to Atheist Ireland Atheist Ireland is a...

6 October 2022

Atheist Ireland submission to UN on combating intolerance based on religion or belief

Atheist Ireland has made the following submission to the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights who is preparing report on combating intolerance against persons based on religion or belief. Contents 1. Background to Atheist Ireland 2. Our recommendations 3. The UN and States should use...

16 August 2022

Protecting the rights of children from religious discrimination in Irish schools

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child will be questioning Ireland next year. Atheist Ireland, the Evangelical Alliance of Ireland, and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Ireland, have made this joint submission to the UN on freedom of religion and belief in...

26 June 2022

Atheist Ireland raises religious discrimination with the UN Human Rights Committee

The United Nations Human Rights Committee is questioning Ireland in July about our human rights record under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, or ICCPR. Atheist Ireland has made the following submission about Freedom of Conscience, Religion, and Belief. You can also read...

24 April 2022

Combating intolerance against persons based on religion or belief

Atheist Ireland has made the following input to a United Nations report about combating intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigmatisation, discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against persons, based on religion or belief, as set forth in UN Resolution 76/157. Contents 1. The need to consistently use...