On 25 February 2026 Humanists International launched its flagship publication, the 2025 Freedom of Thought Report
The Freedom of Thought Report by Humanists International assesses every country in the world on the basis of human rights and the legal status with regard to humanists, atheists, and the non-religious.
Systemic, legal discrimination can include such things as established state churches (resulting in religious privilege), religious instruction provided without secular ethical alternative classes in schools, through to severe punishments such as prison for crimes of “insulting” religion, or death merely for expressing your atheism.
This landmark report is the only worldwide index dedicated to monitoring how laws and state authorities treat humanists, atheists, and the non-religious. At a time of shrinking civic space and growing threats to democracy, this work is more urgent than ever. The report analyzes human rights in every country in the world and documents discriminatory national laws ranging from religious instruction without secular alternatives in schools to death sentences for renouncing religion. This year, the Key Countries edition assesses the right to freedom of religion or belief in a world of rising authoritarianism.
Focus on Bangladesh, El Salvador, Georgia, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Malta, Myanmar, Sudan, and the USA, the report captures positive developments while highlighting instances of democratic backsliding and religious nationalism.
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 