The Rationalist Society of Australia is urging the United Nations Special Rapporteur on religion and belief to visit Australia to conduct an investigation of the discriminatory treatment of non-religious people in government institutions and programs, following Australia’s appearance at the Universal Period Review (UPR) this week.

On Monday in Geneva, as part of the fourth review of Australia’s human rights record, a few United Nations member nations recommended that Australia strengthen measures against discrimination based on religion, but none directly raised the problem of discrimination against non-religious people.

The United Kingdom asked the Australian delegation what steps Australia was taking to address freedom of religion and belief, while Thailand call on Australia to address discrimination on the basis of religion, and the Vatican called for respect for freedom of religion and belief.

The Czech delegation recommended that Australia pursue “comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation that provides consistent protection and ensures equal participation in public and political life for everyone.”

At least two countries – Belgium and Mexico – urged Australia to remove religious exemptions to discrimination laws.

Last year, a coalition of non-religious, ex-religious and pro-secular organisations, headed by the RSA, had, in a submission to the UPR process, brought to the attention of the international community Australia’s ongoing discriminatory treatment of non-religious people in breach of the country’s international human rights obligations.

In a Summary of stakeholders’ information report provided to the UPR, the Human Rights Council summarised the joint submission’s recommendation as: 

[The joint submission] recommended that Australia take measures to ensure equal treatment of people on the basis of religion and belief in public institutions and programmes by removing privileges afforded to religion.

Speaking today, RSA Executive Director Si Gladman said his organisation was disappointed that no member nation had directly raised the issue of discrimination against non-religious people during the UPR session.

However, he said the RSA would now step up its call for Nazila Ghanea, the UN Special Rapporteur on religion and belief, to undertake a fact-finding visit to Australia and meet with non-religious, ex-religious and pro-secular organisations to learn more about the problem.

“The UN Special Rapporteur has a mandate that ensures the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of religion or belief. This, of course, includes the equal recognition of the right to freedom of belief for non-religious people,” said Mr Gladman.

“While the Australian government may choose to continue to ignore its international human rights obligations to non-religious people, many non-religious Australians and non-religious people around the world expect the UN Special Rapporteur, an independent international observer, to advocate for the equal rights of non-religious people under international human rights law.”

In November, the RSA and seven other organisations wrote to the Special Rapporteur to invite her to visit Australia. 

At the UPR session on Monday, Australia’s head of delegation, Kathryn Haigh, stated the Albanese government’s position on seeking bilateral political support for pursuing federal religious anti-discrimination laws.

“Regarding the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, the Australian government committed to extending the federal anti-discrimination framework to ensure people are not discriminated against and do not experience vilification because of their religious beliefs or activities,” she said.

“The government believes the enhancement of human rights protections in Australia should be done in a way that unites rather than divides our community. The prime minister has made it very clear that the government will only pursue religious discrimination reforms with bipartisan support.”

Most recommendations put forward by member nations at the UPR related to Indigenous people, disabled people, migrant workers and asylum seekers, and matters such as the age of criminal responsibility and the youth justice system.

Ms Haigh defended Australia’s human rights record domestically and internationally. 

“The Australian government reiterates its strong history of protecting and promoting human rights, both domestically and internationally,” she said.

“Australia expects our responses to the recommendations made today to highlight our strong and ongoing commitment to the UPR review process, human rights mechanisms and the United Nations.

“Australia firmly commits to further and continued promotion and protection of human rights in Australia, the region and globally.”

Find here all the updates about out joint submission to the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) (Fourth Cycle) into Australia’s human rights.

Si Gladman is Executive Director of the Rationalist Society of Australia. He also hosts ‘The Secular Agenda’ podcast.

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