Uruguay

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The Oriental Republic of Uruguay is the second smallest nation on the South American continent, bordering Brazil and Argentina. Its mostly urban population centers around the capital, Montevideo.

The precise religious demography of the 3.4 million population is not measured in national censuses.¹“Población preliminar: 3.444.263 habitantes”, Instituto Nacional de Estadística, 27 November 2023, https://www.gub.uy/instituto-nacional-estadistica/comunicacion/noticias/poblacion-preliminar-3444263-habitantes Recent estimates suggest that between 34-42% of the population are Roman Catholic, approximately 15% are thought to be of other Christian denominations, including a growing evangelical protestant population, and up to 10% atheist. Some 47% of individuals responding to a 2023 Latinobarómetro survey answered “none” to the question “what is your religion?”. However, there is some debate as to whether these individuals are non-religious or do not belong to a specific religious group.²Miguel Pastorino, “Creyentes ‘sin’ religión y menos católicos”, El Observador, 3 April 2024, https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nota/creyentes-sin-religion-y-menos-catolicos–202443162657; “Uruguay”, CIA World Factbook, Last updated 27 November 2024, https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/uruguay/#people-and-society; “Uruguay 2023”, Latinobarometro, https://www.latinobarometro.org/latOnline.jsp Other religious groups include Buddhists, Jews, Hindus and Muslims, who each account for less than 1% of the population.³ “Uruguay” chapter in 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom (US Department of State, 2023), https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/uruguay/

The state is secular, with separation of religious and political authorities, not discriminating against any religion or belief

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Countries: Belgium, Brazil, Central African Republic, Congo, Republic of the, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Japan, Kenya, Kosovo, Mongolia, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, São Tomé and Príncipe, Slovenia, South Africa, South Sudan, Suriname, Taiwan, Ukraine

Insufficient information or detail not included in this report

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Countries: Kazakhstan

Religious or ideological instruction is mandatory in all or most state-funded schools with no secular or humanist alternative

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Countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Croatia, Egypt, Eswatini, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

No formal discrimination in education

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Countries: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Congo, Republic of the, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Iceland, India, Japan, Korea, Republic of, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Mali, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Russia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, Timor-Leste (East Timor), United States of America, Uruguay

Insufficient information or detail not included in this report

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Countries: Angola, South Sudan, Tuvalu

Religious courts or tribunals rule directly on some family or ‘moral’ matters; it is legally an opt-in system, but the possibility of social coercion is very clear

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Countries: Comoros, Ethiopia, Gambia, Jamaica, Kenya, Lebanon, Niger, Philippines, Senegal, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom

No religious tribunals of concern, secular groups operate freely, individuals are not persecuted by the state

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Countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Congo, Republic of the, Czech Republic, Dominica, Ecuador, Estonia, France, Ghana, Guatemala, Iceland, Japan, Korea, Republic of, Kosovo, Latvia, Luxembourg, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Slovenia, Sweden, Taiwan, Uruguay, Venezuela

Insufficient information or detail not included in this report

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Countries: Honduras, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, South Africa, South Sudan

No fundamental restrictions on freedom of expression or advocacy of humanist values

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Countries: Bahamas, Belgium, Czech Republic, Iceland, Jamaica, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, United States of America

Insufficient information or detail not included in this report

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Countries: no countries relate to this boundary condition

No condition holds in this strand

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Countries: Lesotho, Uzbekistan

No condition holds in this strand

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Countries: Andorra

No condition holds in this strand

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Countries: Cyprus, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Laos, Lesotho

No condition holds in this strand

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Countries: no countries relate to this boundary condition

Localised or infrequent but recurring and widespread social marginalisation or prejudice against the non-religious

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This condition is unusual in that it is applied in cases where there is some social discrimination, but it is not pervasive or nationwide. This condition is applied when there is sufficient background evidence to warrant the assertion that discrimination is not anomalous but widespread, and this condition may be applied for example even where if there is no legislative discrimination or where the non-religious may have legal recourse against such discrimination. However, societal discrimination (i.e. discrimination by peers, as opposed to state or legal discrimination) is not easily measured, and for this reason the Report does not currently have similar more severe boundary conditions to capture higher levels of social discrimination per se. In principle these may be introduced in future. However, we consider that countries with actual higher levels of social discrimination against the non-religious will generally already meet other higher level (more severe) boundary conditions under this thematic strand.

Countries: Albania, Botswana, Greece, Serbia, United States of America

The dominant influence of religion in public life undermines the right to equality and/or non-discrimination

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Applied when the influence of religion on public life undermines others’ rights, such as SRHR, women’s rights, LGBTI+ rights.

May be applied when the influence is overt (i.e. when religious laws are applied to undermine others’ rights) or covert (i.e. where religious pressure groups exert influence to affect policy)

Countries: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Chile, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Liberia, Lithuania, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Oman, Paraguay, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, Zambia

Use of Conscientious Objection clauses resulting in the denial of lawful services to women and LGBTI+ people

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Countries: Armenia, Chile, Croatia, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Uruguay

Complete tyranny precludes all freedoms of expression and thought, religion or belief

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Applied when overriding acts of oppression by the State are extreme, to the extent that the question of freedom of thought and expression is almost redundant, because all human rights and freedoms are quashed by authorities.

Countries: Afghanistan, North Korea

The non-religious are barred from some government offices (including posts reserved for particular religions or sects)

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Countries: Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Comoros, Eritrea, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

There is systematic religious privilege

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Countries: Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Bahrain, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Latvia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malta, Moldova, Nepal, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Togo, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe

There is a nominal state church with few privileges or progress is being made toward disestablishment

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Countries: Bulgaria, Norway, Peru, Rwanda

Religious or ideological indoctrination is utterly pervasive in schools

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Countries: Afghanistan, Congo, Democratic Republic of, North Korea, Saudi Arabia

There is state funding of at least some religious schools

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Countries: Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Kosovo, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Switzerland, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zimbabwe

State-funded schools offer religious or ideological instruction with no secular or humanist alternative, but it is optional

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Countries: Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Italy, Kiribati, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, New Zealand, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Spain, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Venezuela

Expression of non-religious views is severely persecuted, or is rendered almost impossible by severe social stigma, or is highly likely to be met with hatred or violence

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Countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Iran, Pakistan, Yemen

The non-religious are persecuted socially or there are prohibitive social taboos against atheism, humanism or secularism

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Countries: Algeria, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Nigeria, Oman, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Turkey

There is significant social marginalisation of the non-religious or stigma associated with expressing atheism, humanism or secularism

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Countries: Bangladesh, Barbados, Colombia, Egypt, Georgia, Ghana, Guyana, Iraq, Malaysia, Poland, Samoa, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Uganda

Expression of core Humanist principles on democracy, freedom and human rights is brutally repressed

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Countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Chad, China, Eritrea, Iran, Kuwait, Mauritania, North Korea, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

Expression of core humanist principles on democracy, freedom or human rights is severely restricted

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Countries: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Laos, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, Somalia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Expression of core humanist principles on democracy, freedom or human rights is somewhat restricted

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Countries: Andorra, Armenia, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Congo, Republic of the, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Niger, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda

Some concerns about political or media freedoms, not specific to the non-religious

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Countries: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, India, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Republic of, Kosovo, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Tonga, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Zambia

Religious authorities have supreme authority over the state

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Countries: Iran

State legislation is partly derived from religious law or by religious authorities

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Countries: Algeria, Bangladesh, Comoros, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates

Preferential treatment is given to a religion or religion in general

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This condition is applied where there are miscellaneous indicators that organs of the state offer various forms of support for a religion, or to religion in general over non-religious worldviews, suggesting a preference for those beliefs, or that the organs of that religion are privileged.

Countries: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burundi, Canada, Cape Verde, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Montenegro, Mozambique, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zimbabwe

Official symbolic deference to religion

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Countries: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Croatia, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Finland, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kiribati, Korea, Republic of, Laos, Latvia, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe

Religious or ideological instruction in a significant number of schools is of a coercive fundamentalist or extremist variety

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This condition highlights countries where schools subject children to fundamentalist religious instruction with no real opportunity to question fundamentalist tenets, or where lessons routinely encourage hatred (for example religious or ethnic hatred). The wording “significant number of schools” is not given a rigid quantification (sometimes the worst-offending schools are unregistered, illegal, or otherwise uncounted); however the condition is not applied in cases where only a small number of schools meet the description and may be anomalous, as opposed to being indicative of a widespread problem.

Countries: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia

Religious schools have powers to discriminate in admissions or employment

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Countries: Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Equatorial Guinea, Finland, Germany, Haiti, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Lebanon, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe

State-funded schools provide religious education which may be nominally comprehensive but is substantively biased or borderline confessional

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Countries: Djibouti, Finland, India, Laos, Latvia, Norway, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Ukraine

There is a pattern of impunity or collusion in violence by non-state actors against the nonreligious

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Countries: Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritania, Pakistan

Systemic religious privilege results in significant social discrimination

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Countries: Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Oman, Palestine, Paraguay, Qatar, Russia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Some religious courts rule in civil or family matters on a coercive or discriminatory basis

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Countries: Bangladesh, Comoros, Egypt, Haiti, Jamaica, Malaysia, Nigeria, Palestine, Philippines, Singapore, Turkey

‘Apostasy’ or conversion from a specific religion is outlawed and punishable by death

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Countries: Afghanistan, Brunei Darussalam, Iran, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Yemen

‘Apostasy’ is outlawed and punishable with a prison sentence

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Countries: Bahrain, Comoros, Jordan, Kuwait

Blasphemy or criticism of religion is restricted in law and is punishable by a fine

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Countries: Australia, Austria, Barbados, Brazil, Cambodia, Finland, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Moldova, Montenegro, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Saint Lucia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Kingdom

Concerns that secular or religious authorities interfere in specifically religious freedoms

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Countries: Angola, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Congo, Republic of the, Denmark, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Hungary, Italy, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Nepal, North Korea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Serbia, Singapore, Tajikistan, Tonga, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam

State legislation is largely or entirely derived from religious law or by religious authorities

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Countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

There is an established church or state religion

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Countries: Algeria, Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Finland, Georgia, Haiti, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, Yemen, Zambia

Anomalous discrimination by local or provincial authorities, or overseas territories

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Countries: Cameroon, Dominica, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, Guinea, India, Jamaica, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Micronesia, Mongolia, Niger, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay

Religious or ideological instruction is mandatory in at least some public schools (without secular or humanist alternatives)

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Countries: Argentina, Armenia, Belize, Cambodia, Chad, China, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Georgia, Germany, Guinea, Haiti, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lesotho, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Samoa, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, United Kingdom

Government figures or state agencies openly marginalize, harass, or incite hatred or violence against the non-religious

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Countries: Afghanistan, Egypt, Hungary, Iran, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan

Government authorities push a socially conservative, religiously or ideologically inspired agenda, without regard to the rights of those with progressive views

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Countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Grenada, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Discriminatory prominence is given to religious bodies, traditions or leaders

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Countries: Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Finland, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kiribati, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia, Moldova, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Tonga, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

‘Blasphemy’ or criticism of religion is outlawed and punishable by death

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Countries: Afghanistan, Brunei Darussalam, Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia

‘Blasphemy’ is outlawed or criticism of religion (including de facto ‘blasphemy’ laws) is restricted and punishable with a prison sentence

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Countries: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Comoros, Cyprus, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, Gambia, Germany, Grenada, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Oman, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Quasi-divine veneration of a ruling elite is enforced, or a single-party regime holds uncontested power, subject to severe punishment

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Countries: Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Viet Nam

Legal or constitutional provisions exclude non-religious views from freedom of belief

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Countries: Argentina, Burundi, Canada, Eritrea, Haiti, Jordan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Tonga

It is illegal to register an explicitly Humanist, atheist, secularist or other non-religious NGO or other human rights organization, or such groups are persecuted by authorities

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Countries: Afghanistan, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait, Maldives, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

Prohibitive interreligious social control (including interreligious marriage bans)

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Countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

Religious groups control some public or social services

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Countries: Algeria, Argentina, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Denmark, Germany, Haiti, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Solomon Islands, Switzerland, Tunisia, United Kingdom

It is illegal to advocate secularism or church-state separation, or such advocacy is suppressed

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Countries: Afghanistan, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

The non-religious are barred from holding government office

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Countries: Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Iran, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, Rwanda, Somalia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

There is a religious tax or tithing which is compulsory, or which is state-administered and discriminates by precluding non-religious groups

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Countries: Argentina, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Hungary, Italy, Pakistan, Peru, Rwanda, Samoa, Sweden, Switzerland

Religious control over family law or legislation on moral matters

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Countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

It is illegal or unrecognised to identify as an atheist or as non-religious

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Countries: Comoros, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, United Arab Emirates

Some concerns about children's right to specifically religious freedom

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This condition may apply if specifically religious education, religious materials, or specific religious denominations are so tightly controlled that children are in fact over-protected from exposure to religion and are likely unable to explore or construct their own worldview in accordance with their evolving capacities. This condition helps us to classify states (perhaps with secular constitutions) which have criminalized specifically religious beliefs or practices. This condition is not applied if the restricted beliefs or practices are found to be outlawed due to their being of an extremist variety. While this condition does not directly reflect discrimination against non-religious persons or non-religious ideas, it does represent an overall threat to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief; such restrictions could spill over to affect non-religious beliefs later; and they pose a risk of backlash against over-zealous secular authorities or even against non-religious individuals by association.

Countries: China, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Cuba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guyana, Italy, Kazakhstan, Laos, Madagascar, Mexico, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Tajikistan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe

State-funding of religious institutions or salaries, or discriminatory tax exemptions

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Countries: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Eswatini, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Korea, Republic of, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Montenegro, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Suriname, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zimbabwe

It is made difficult to register or operate an explicitly Humanist, atheist, secularist or other non-religious NGO or other human rights organization

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Countries: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Egypt, Eritrea, Malaysia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Senegal, Somalia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan

Constitution and government

The Constitution⁴Constitución de la República (1967) https://parlamento.gub.uy/documentosyleyes/documentos/11/HTML in Uruguay and numerous laws explicitly prohibit discrimination based on religion. There is a strict separation between religion and state (Article 5 of the Constitution). By law, secularism is commemorated on 19 March each year.⁵Declaración del “Día de la Laicidad”. 19 de Marzo de Cada Año, Ley N° 19626, 15 June 2018, https://www.impo.com.uy/bases/leyes/19626-2018

Several provisions of the Penal Code⁶Código Penal, N° 9155, 4 December 1933, https://www.impo.com.uy/bases/codigo-penal/9155-1933 restrict ill-treatment of ethnic, religious, and other minority groups, including hate crimes (Article 149).

Some deviations from Laicidad

Under Article 5 of the Constitution, the State granted the Catholic Church ownership of Church buildings constructed with public funds, except those that have been designated for use as public buildings, including hospitals and prisons.⁷Reconoce a la Iglesia Católica el dominio de todos los templos que hayan sido total o parcialmente construidos con fondos del Erario Nacional, exceptuándose sólo las capillas destinadas al servicio de asilos, hospitales, cárceles u otros establecimientos públicos.

Anomalous restrictions on religious minorities’ rights

According to the US State Department, several religious minority groups have reported facing discrimination by the State, and some groups felt that the State favored Christian traditions. Members of an Afro-Umbandist group have reported incidents of officials interrupting rites, including rituals with drums. Muslim women working in some state entities have not been permitted to wear hijabs at work, despite the fact that wearing religious attire and symbols is not prohibited by law. While the authorities are reported to rarely make halal meals available for Muslim children in public primary schools.⁸Uruguay” chapter in 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom (US Department of State, 2023), https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/uruguay/

Education and children’s rights

The General Law on Education⁹Asamblea General, Ley General de Educación, Ley Nº 18.437, 12 December 2008, https://parlamento.gub.uy/documentosyleyes/leyes/ley/18437 outlines secularism as a core principle of education, adding that:

“The principle of secularism will ensure the comprehensive and critical treatment of all topics in the field of public education, through free access to sources of information and knowledge that enable those being educated to take a conscious position. The plurality of opinions and the rational and democratic examination of knowledge and beliefs will be guaranteed.”

Article 17 of the General Law on Education¹⁰Unofficial translation of: “El principio de laicidad asegurará el tratamiento integral y crítico de todos los temas en el ámbito de la educación pública, mediante el libre acceso a las fuentes de información y conocimiento que posibilite una toma de posición consciente de quien se educa. Se garantizará la pluralidad de opiniones y la confrontación racional y democrática de saberes y creencias.”

While the law does not explicitly prohibit it, public schools do not offer religious instruction. Public schools allow students belonging to minority religious groups to take time off school for religious holidays without being penalized.¹¹“Uruguay” chapter in 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom (US Department of State, 2023), https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/uruguay/

Although private schools do not receive funds from the State, under Article 69 of the Constitution, they are exempt from paying national or municipal taxes by way of subsidy for their services.

Comprehensive sexuality education

Civil society groups have reported that the government has not yet made the delivery of Comprehensive Sexuality Education mandatory in either primary or secondary schools.¹²Cecilia Anandez, Alicia Benitez, Estela De Armas, Ana Lima and Andrea Mazzei (CLADEM); Micaela Britos and Giovanna De León (Colectivamujeres); Lucia Van Velthoven (Iniciativas Sanitaria); Mauricio Coitiño (Instituto Afrodescendiente), “Alternative Report to the Human Rights Council 4th Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review of Uruguay 46th session”, CLADEM, Colectivamujeres, Iniciativas Sanitaria, Instituto Afrodescendiente, https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/uy-stakeholders-info-s46; “Joint Submission 10”, Akahata-Equipo de Trabajo en Sexualidades y Géneros, Buenos Aires (Argentina), Colectivo Ovejas Negras Akahatá A.C.Sexual Rights Initiative Unión Rochense LGBT+ Coordinadora por la Diversidad – Salto Colectivo Binacional LGBTQ+ D.I.V.A.S Chuy – Chuí – S.V.P. Colectivo Diverso Las Piedras
Colectivo LGBTH+ Gente de Diversidad Bella Unión Colectivo Riversidad – ATRU Rivera Colectivo Selim Tejos – Masculinidades, personas no binaries y más Durazno Diverso Manos Púrpura, Trans Boys Uruguay (TBU), niñez, adolescencia y familia Unión Trans y Disidentes de Maldonado, accessed 12 December 2024, https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/uy-stakeholders-info-s46

Further, there are indications that there is a growing backlash against what is being termed the teaching of “gender ideologies” in schools from conservative organizations, religious schools and some legislators.¹³“Joint Submission 10”, Akahata-Equipo de Trabajo en Sexualidades y Géneros, Buenos Aires (Argentina), Colectivo Ovejas Negras Akahatá A.C.Sexual Rights Initiative Unión Rochense LGBT+ Coordinadora por la Diversidad – Salto Colectivo Binacional LGBTQ+ D.I.V.A.S Chuy – Chuí – S.V.P. Colectivo Diverso Las Piedras Colectivo LGBTH+ Gente de Diversidad Bella Unión Colectivo Riversidad – ATRU Rivera Colectivo Selim Tejos – Masculinidades, personas no binaries y más Durazno Diverso Manos Púrpura, Trans Boys Uruguay (TBU), niñez, adolescencia y familia Unión Trans y Disidentes de Maldonado, accessed 12 December 2024, https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/uy-stakeholders-info-s46; “Manini Ríos contra la ‘ideología de género’ en escuelas: es ‘sencillamente suicida’”, El Observador, 8 November 2022, https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nota/manini-rios-contra-la-idolologia-de-genero-en-escuelas-es-sencillamente-suicida–2022118124748

Family, community and society

Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights

In 2012, Uruguay introduced a law legalizing abortion within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Where the pregnancy results from rape, contingent on certain procedural requirements, abortion is permitted up to 14 weeks.¹⁴ Ley Sobre Interrupción Voluntaria del Embarazo. Ley del Aborto, Ley N° 18987, 22 October 2012, https://www.impo.com.uy/bases/leyes/18987-2012; “Servicios IVE (Interrupción Voluntaria del Embarazo)”, Administracion de los Servicios de Salud del Estado, 26 April 2023, https://www.asse.com.uy/contenido/Servicios-IVE-Interrupcion-Voluntaria-del-Embarazo–14378

Within that framework, there are a number of factors limiting access to safe abortion.¹⁵ Gabriel Díaz Campanella, “Legal, pero obstaculizada: la despenalización del aborto cumple 10 años en Uruguay”, El País, 6 January 2023, https://elpais.com/planeta-futuro/2023-01-06/legal-pero-obstaculizada-la-despenalizacion-del-aborto-cumple-10-anos-en-uruguay.html Along with a mandatory waiting period and obligatory counselling prior to accessing an abortion, and a lack of access to health centers in rural areas,¹⁶Lucía Barrios, “Desigualdades en el acceso a la salud entre Montevideo y el resto del país”, La Diaria, 2 December 2023, https://ladiaria.com.uy/salud/articulo/2023/12/desigualdades-en-el-acceso-a-la-salud-entre-montevideo-y-el-resto-del-pais/ there is an expansive conscientious objection clause (Article 11) that allows healthcare providers to refuse abortion-related services on the grounds of religion or belief.

The conscience clause in the law (updated and expanded in 2015) enables doctors – and private institutions – to refuse participation in any of the steps relating to the termination of pregnancy (not only the abortion procedure), hindering access to pre- and post-abortion care.¹⁷Lucía Berro Pizzarossa, “Legal barriers to access abortion services through a human rights lens: the Uruguayan experience.” Reproductive Health Matters, Volume 26, 2018 – Issue 52. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09688080.2017.1422664#; Cecilia Anandez, Alicia Benitez, Estela De Armas, Ana Lima and Andrea Mazzei (CLADEM); Micaela Britos and Giovanna De León (Colectivamujeres); Lucia Van Velthoven (Iniciativas Sanitaria); Mauricio Coitiño (Instituto Afrodescendiente), “Alternative Report to the Human Rights Council 4th Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review of Uruguay 46th session”, CLADEM, Colectivamujeres, Iniciativas Sanitaria, Instituto Afrodescendiente, https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/uy-stakeholders-info-s46;
Abracinskas, L. and Puyol, S. , Los dilemas de la objeción de conciencia en salud, desde su impacto en los servicios de salud sexual y reproductiva (MYSU, 2022), https://www.mysu.org.uy/investigaciones/los-dilemas-de-la-objecion-de-conciencia-en-salud-desde-su-impacto-en-los-servicios-de-salud-sexual-y-reproductiva/ It is reported that this clause is widely used as a means to deny abortions, and has a significantly negative impact on women’s rights to have safe abortions, and prevents patients from receiving accurate, scientific, and unbiased information about their options. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has noted its concern about the widespread use of conscientious objection amongst medical practitioners in Uruguay, “thereby limiting access to safe abortion services, which are guaranteed by law.”¹⁸Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, Concluding Observations on the Combined Eighth and Ninth Periodic Reports of Uruguay, CEDAW/C/URY/CO/8-9 (2016), https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CEDAW/C/URY/CO/8-9&Lang=En

Research conducted by MYSU (Women and Health Uruguay) has shown that in some areas of the country up to 100% of medical service providers refuse to terminate pregnancies, making it virtually impossible to obtain timely access to services.¹⁹Abracinskas, L. and Puyol, S. , Los dilemas de la objeción de conciencia en salud, desde su impacto en los servicios de salud sexual y reproductiva (MYSU, 2022), https://www.mysu.org.uy/investigaciones/los-dilemas-de-la-objecion-de-conciencia-en-salud-desde-su-impacto-en-los-servicios-de-salud-sexual-y-reproductiva/

Reports also indicate that there is significant social stigma against obtaining an abortion, with religious convictions cited as one of the key sources of social pressure. In some cases, in an attempt to dissuade women from having an abortion, women have reportedly been shown images and sounds during the ultrasounds they must undergo, despite medical protocols clearly indicating that this should not be done.²⁰Gabriel Díaz Campanella, “Legal, pero obstaculizada: la despenalización del aborto cumple 10 años en Uruguay”, El País, 6 January 2023, https://elpais.com/planeta-futuro/2023-01-06/legal-pero-obstaculizada-la-despenalizacion-del-aborto-cumple-10-anos-en-uruguay.html

LGBTI+ rights

Uruguay has often been at the vanguard of LGBTI+ rights in the region and such rights are generally respected in the country. Same-sex sexual relationships have been legal since 1933, while same-sex marriage was legalized in 2013.

However, the country has yet to ban conversion therapy outright. According to LGBTI+ rights NGO, ILGA World, the 2017 Mental Health law prohibits “health professionals, particularly psychiatrists, from legally engaging in sexual orientation change efforts.”²¹“Uruguay”, ILGA World Database, accessed 12 December 2024, https://database.ilga.org/uruguay-lgbti Humanists International has not found reports of religious groups carrying out conversion practices.

Although the legal framework is broadly favorable to LGBTI+ rights, civil society groups report that LGBTI+ people face discrimination in employment and access to medical care. Public figures, including legislators, have been reported to have been publicly outspoken against homosexuality, using the Bible as justification for their convictions.²²“‘No sé si el ano de un hombre está preparado para ser penetrado’, dijo Domenech,” Montevideo, 20 July 20224, https://www.montevideo.com.uy/Noticias/-No-se-si-el-ano-de-un-hombre-esta-preparado-para-ser-penetrado–dijo-Domenech-uc894586; “Tras dichos de Domenech sobre la penetración del ano, Manini Ríos dijo que su partido no está contra los homosexuales”, El Observador, 24 July 2024, https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nacional/tras-dichos-domenech-la-penetracion-del-ano-manini-rios-dijo-que-su-partido-no-esta-contra-los-homosexuales-n5952808 It is unclear how widespread such statements are.

In 2018, the government passed legislation that permits trans individuals to change their gender identity and guarantees them access to healthcare. Attempts by conservative representatives in parliament to roll-back these rights failed in 2019.²³Oscar Lopez, “Effort to roll back transgender rights fails in Uruguay”, Reuters, 5 August 2019, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-uruguay-rights-vote-idUSKCN1UV2EV/

Freedom of expression, advocacy of humanist values

The constitutional guarantees of free expression (Article 29) are generally respected, and violations of press freedom are relatively uncommon.²⁴“Uruguay” in Chapultepec Index on Freedom of Expression and the Press (Inter-American Press Association, 2024), https://www.indicedechapultepec.com/indice/4/dofa_en.pdf However, recent amendments to the Media Law have sparked concerns for media freedom in the country.

Media freedom

In August 2024, the government passed a new Audiovisual Content Broadcasting Services Law (Media Law)²⁵Asamblea General, Ley de Servicios de Difusión de Contenido Audiovisual, No. 20.383, 16 October 2024, https://medios.presidencia.gub.uy/legal/2024/leyes/10/cons_min_967.pdf that media freedom organizations had criticized for having the potential to increase media concentration, decrease transparency, and have the effect of undermining freedom of expression.²⁶“Aprueban nueva Ley de Medios en Uruguay: más concentración, menos transparencia y amordaza expresiones políticas”, Observacom, 15 May 2024, https://www.observacom.org/aprueban-nueva-ley-de-medios-en-uruguay-mas-concentracion-menos-transparencia-y-amordaza-expresiones-politicas/; “Aprueban nueva Ley de Medios en Uruguay: más concentración, menor transparencia y censura de medios y periodistas”, Observacom, 15 August 2024, https://ifex.org/es/aprueban-nueva-ley-de-medios-en-uruguay-mas-concentracion-menor-transparencia-y-censura-de-medios-y-periodistas/ However, one day later, President Lacalle Pou vetoed article 72 of the law – an article that sought to impose undue obligations on media outlets to provide political information in a “comprehensive, impartial, serious, rigorous, plural and balanced manner among political actors” – thereby addressing some of the concerns raised by civil society actors.²⁷ “New Media Law draws criticism ahead of the country’s general elections”, CIVICUS Monitor, 22 October 2024, https://monitor.civicus.org/explore/new-media-law-draws-criticism-ahead-of-the-countrys-general-elections/

The passage of the law prompted the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan, to send a formal communication to the government, expressing concerns regarding the Media Law’s conformity with international human rights standards in late September 2024.²⁸“New Media Law draws criticism ahead of the country’s general elections”, CIVICUS Monitor, 22 October 2024, https://monitor.civicus.org/explore/new-media-law-draws-criticism-ahead-of-the-countrys-general-elections/

‘Blasphemy’

Chapter V of the Penal Code outlines ‘crimes against freedom of worship and religious sentiments’. The provisions are primarily designed to criminalize actions that would prevent an individual from exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief. However, Article 306, criminalizes:

“Anyone who in any way offends any of the religious groups tolerated in the country, publicly insulting its ministers or persons who profess said worship, shall be punished with three to twelve months in prison.”²⁹ Unofficial translation of: “(Ofensa al culto por el ultraje público a las personas que lo profesan o a los ministros del culto) El que de cualquier manera ofendiere alguno de los cultos tolerados en el país, ultrajando públicamente a sus ministros o a las personas que profesan dicho culto, será castigado con tres a doce meses de prisión.”

Further, Article 305 criminalizes:

“Anyone who, in any way, by words or acts, including damage or destruction, offends any of the religions tolerated in the country, by insulting things that are objects of worship, or that serve for its exercise, in places intended for worship, provided that the offense is carried out publicly or has a public character due to its notoriety, shall be punished with six to twenty-four months in prison.”³⁰Unofficial translation of: “(Ofensa al culto por el ultraje de los lugares o de los objetos a él
destinados) El que, de cualquier manera, con palabras o con actos, incluso el deterioro o la destrucción, ofendiere alguna de las religiones toleradas en el país, ultrajando las cosas que son objeto de culto, o que sirven para su ejercicio, en los lugares destinados al culto, siempre que la ofensa se efectuare públicamente o revistiese por su notoriedad, un carácter público, será castigado con seis a veinticuatro meses de prisión.”

In criminalizing causing offense through insults to religious persons or the damage of objects in such broad terms, the Penal Code places de facto restrictions on ‘blasphemy’. Humanists International could not find specific instances of either of these provisions being applied in practice.

Freedom of Assembly and Association

The right to freedom of assembly and association are guaranteed by law, and the government generally respects this in practice. A broad range of community organizations are active in civic life in the country, including many groups focussed on the rights of women for which campaigning aims to raise particular awareness about issues such violence against women and LGBTI+ rights.³¹“Uruguay”, CIVICUS Monitor, accessed 13 December 2024, https://monitor.civicus.org/country/uruguay/

In October 2020, the newly-elected center-right government passed the Law of Urgent Consideration (Ley de Urgente Consideración – LUC), which – among other provisions designed to address public security concerns – grants police greater powers to use force to quell protests, presents greater obstacles to public demonstrations and the work of unions, and criminalizes criticizing the police.³²Asamblea General, Ley de Urgente Consideración, No. 19.889, https://infolegislativa.parlamento.gub.uy/htmlstat/pl/leyes/LUC.pdf The law has also been criticized by the former Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Edison Lanza, as creating a vehicle of censorship through the “right to be forgotten.”³³Juan Manuel Montoro, trans. Emma Dewick, “Uruguay’s new government is prioritising security, but is it at the cost of free speech?”, Global Voices, 21 December 2020, https://globalvoices.org/2020/12/21/uruguays-new-government-is-prioritising-security-but-is-it-at-the-cost-of-free-speech/

In 2022, the law was upheld following a tightly contested plebiscite on whether its provisions should be repealed.³⁴“Qué es la Ley de Urgente Consideración de Lacalle Pou que los uruguayos ratificaron en el referéndum”, Infobae, 28 March 2022, https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2022/03/28/que-es-la-ley-de-urgente-consideracion-de-lacalle-pou-que-los-uruguayos-ratificaron-en-el-referendum/; “Resultados de Escrutinio Departamental, Referéndum Ley N° 19.889”, Corte Electoral, accessed 13 December 2024, https://referendum2022.corteelectoral.gub.uy/ResumenResultados.htm#