Human Rights and Freedom in Belgium

Belgium Kingdom of Belgium [Country Profile Page]
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	8th best
Location	Europe
Population	11.5m1
Life Expectancy	81.88yrs (2017)2

When it comes to ensuring human rights and freedom, Belgium leads the world, setting excellent examples. Belgium performs the best when it comes to its average Freedom in the World rating and in freethought₃. It comes in the best 20 for combatting modern slavery₄, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₅, opposing gender inequality₆, its nominal commitment to Human Rights₇, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₈, LGBT equality in the 2020s₉ and in supporting press freedom₁₀. And finally, it does better than average in its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice₁₁. Human Rights Watch specifically states that Belgium's support of women's rights has been exemplary₁₂.

1. Belgium's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
2. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets
   1. Press Freedom
   2. Slavery in the 2020s
   3. Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom
   4. Freedom in the World
   5. Human Rights Watch Comments
   6. Nominal Commitment to HR
   7. HR Treaties Lag
3. Gender Equality Datasets
   1. Gender Inequality
   2. Year Women Can Vote
4. Prejudice Datasets
   1. Anti-Semite Opinions
   2. LGBT Equality in the 2020s
   3. Freedom of Thought
5. Links

---

1. Belgium's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#belgium #equality #eu #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Compared to Europe (2025)13
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank13
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
4	Norway	9.2
5	Iceland	15.7
6	Finland	17.4
7	Luxembourg	17.8
8	Belgium	18.7
9	Austria	23.8
10	France	23.8
11	Germany	24.6
12	Switzerland	25.0
13	UK	25.5
	Europe Avg	47.37
q=49.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)13
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank13
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
4	Norway	9.2
5	Iceland	15.7
6	Canada	16.7
7	Finland	17.4
8	Luxembourg	17.8
9	Belgium	18.7
10	New Zealand	18.9
11	Australia	22.1
12	Austria	23.8
	World Avg	89.80
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, The Netherlands and Denmark₁₄. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia₁₄.

31 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, combatting modern slavery, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₁₄, whereas the worst are The Middle East, Africa and Asia₁₄.

For more, see:

• " Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Amnesty International's 2023-23 summary on human rights in Belgium stated:

“An improved criminal law introduced a consent-centred approach to rape and other sexual violence. Asylum seekers were left destitute and Afghan asylum seekers were denied international protection. A state owned weapons manufacturer continued irresponsible arms transfers. A bilateral treaty with Iran raised concerns about impunity. Structural discrimination against non-nationals and racial and ethnic minorities was documented. Prisoners were detained in inhumane conditions and the state was ordered to remedy its violations of the principle of non-refoulement.”

"The State of the World's Human Rights 2022/23" by Amnesty International (2023)₁₅

The EU has acted on behalf of its member states on many occasions to support, foster, fund and encourage human rights protections in every region of the world, with agreement of its member states through the European Parliament. The protections of workers' rights and their harmonisations (which stops companies moving staff to countries with the weakest laws) has had great effect in stopping workforce abuse₁₆. According to Human Rights Watch's comprehensive review for the year 2017, in addition to vocal and public pronouncements on poor human rights records of many countries, the EU has also acted through economic sanctions, political pressure and used other means to incentivize the adoption of human rights protections, even if these measures harm EU trading₁₇. It is to Belgium's credit that it supports the EU in these actions.

2. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets

2.1. Press Freedom

#democracy #freedom #Freedom_of_Speech #Good_Governance #mass_media #politics #UK

Press Freedom Higher is better10
Pos.		202510
1	Norway	92.31
2	Estonia	89.46
3	Netherlands	88.64
	...
15	Latvia	81.82
16	New Zealand	81.37
17	Iceland	81.36
18	Belgium	80.12
19	Trinidad & Tobago	79.71
20	UK	78.89
21	Canada	78.75
22	Austria	78.12
	Europe Avg	70.63
	World Avg	54.65
q=179.

Regarding supporting press freedom, Belgium is 18th-best in the world.

The freedom to investigate, publish information, and have access to others' opinion is a fundamental part of today's information-driven world, and is linked with Freedom of Speech and Good Governance. Scores on the Press Freedom Index are calculated according to indicators including pluralism - the degree to which opinions are represented in the media, media independence of authorities, self-censorship, legislation, transparency and the infrastructure that supports news and information, and, the level of violence against journalists which includes lengths of imprisonments. The index "does not take direct account of the kind of political system but it is clear that democracies provide better protection for the freedom to produce and circulate accurate news and information than countries where human rights are flouted". The rankings are used as one of the datasets of the Social and Moral Development Index₁₈

It must be noted that press freedom is not an indicator of press quality and the press itself can be abusive; the UK suffers in particular from a popular brand of nasty reporting that infuses several of its newspapers who are particularly prone to running destructive and often untrue campaigns against victims. The Press Freedom Index notes that "the index should in no way be taken as an indicator of the quality of the media in the countries concerned".

For more, see:

• "Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2019).

Averages by decade for Belgium (for the ranks, lower is better):

Press Freedom	2000s  Average	2010s  Average
Belgium:	2.96	87.16
World Rank:	14th	⇣  15th
World Avg:	27.44	65.91

2.2. Slavery in the 2020s

#burundi #eritrea #human_rights #indonesia #slavery

Slavery in the 2020s Lower is better4
Pos.		Total Per 10004
1=	Switzerland	0.50
1=	Norway	0.50
3=	Germany	0.60
3=	Sweden	0.60
3=	Denmark	0.60
3=	Netherlands	0.60
7	Belgium	1.00
8=	Japan	1.10
8=	Ireland	1.10
10	Finland	1.40
11	Mauritius	1.50
12=	Australia	1.60
	Europe Avg	5.64
	World Avg	7.15
q=160.

In terms of combatting modern slavery, Belgium is 7th-best in the world.

Modern slavery includes forced labour (often of the under-age), debt bondage (especially generational), sexual slavery, chattel slavery and other forms of abuse, some of which can be surprisingly difficult to detect, but often target those fleeing from warzones, and the poverty-stricken vulnerable.₁₉. Some industries (diamond, clothing, coal) from some countries (Burundi₂₀, Eritrea₂₀, Indonesia₂₁) are a particular concern. The Walk Free Foundation, say in their 2023 report, that 50 million people are living in modern slavery₂₀, and, nearly two-thirds of those in forced labour are employed at the end of supply chains working for large multinationals that creating products consumed by rich countries₂₂.

For more, see:

• "The Historical Slave Trade and Modern Slavery" by Vexen Crabtree (2018).

Averages by decade for Belgium (for the ranks, lower is better):

Slavery	2010s  Average	2020s  Average
Belgium:	2.00	1.00
World Rank:	32nd	⇡  7th
World Avg:	6.54	7.15

2.3. Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom

#freedom #politics

Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom Lower is better8
Pos.		2014 Rank8
1	Hong Kong	1
2	Switzerland	2
3	New Zealand	3
	...
14=	Germany	13
15	Sweden	15
16	Malta	16
17	Belgium	17
18	Czechia	18
19	Portugal	19
20	Lithuania	20
21=	Estonia	21
	Europe Avg	33.9
	World Avg	79.7
q=159.

With regard to supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, Belgium is positioned 17th-best in the world.

The Human Freedom Index published by the Fraser Institute is...

“... a broad measure of human freedom, understood as the absence of coercive constraint. It uses 79 distinct indicators of personal and economic freedom in the following areas: Rule of Law, Security and Safety, Movement, Religion, Association, Assembly, and Civil Society, Expression, Relationships, Size of Government, Legal System and Property Rights, Access to Sound Money, Freedom to Trade Internationally, Regulation of Credit, Labor, and Business. [...]

The highest levels of freedom are in Western Europe, Northern Europe, and North America (Canada and the United States. The lowest levels are in the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. [...]

Countries in the top quartile of freedom enjoy a significant higher per capita income ($37,147) [compared with] the least-free quartile [at] $8,700). The HFI finds a strong correlation between human freedom and democracy.”

"The Human Freedom Index" by The Fraser Institute (2016)₂₃

For more, see:

• "Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2019).

2.4. Freedom in the World

#freedom #human_rights #hungary #politics #USA

Freedom in the World Lower is better
Pos.		2024 Score
1=	Norway	1.0
1=	Canada	1.0
1=	Cape Verde	1.0
	...
27=	Austria	1.0
27=	Taiwan	1.0
27=	Spain	1.0
27=	Belgium	1.0
27=	Barbados	1.0
27=	Andorra	1.0
27=	Uruguay	1.0
27=	Australia	1.0
	Europe Avg	2.2
	World Avg	3.7
q=205.

With regard to its average Freedom in the World rating, Belgium comes best in the world.

Freedom House's long-standing annual report has been running since the 1970s, collecting data on political rights (PR) and civil liberties (CL). Their reports rate countries as "Free", "Partially Free" or "Not Free", however the results here are based on their numerical values. Many countries score the best combination of scores (1 and 1), which is why the table of results show many places equally placed in 1st place. In the past two decades, some well-established democracies like the USA and Hungary have been falling. Whilst most of the world in general is improving rights and freedoms over time, the 2020s has seen some regression.

For more, see:

• " Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Averages by decade for Belgium (for the ranks, lower is better):

Freedom in the World	1970s  Average	1980s  Average	1990s  Average	2000s  Average	2010s  Average
Belgium:	1.0	1.0	1.2	1.1	1.0
World Rank:	1st	1st	⇣  27th	⇣  28th	⇡  1st
World Avg:	4.3	4.2	3.6	3.4	3.4

2.5. Human Rights Watch Comments

#human_rights

Human Rights Watch Comments Higher is better5
Pos.		2017 Score5
1=	UK	9
1=	France	9
1=	Germany	9
	...
7=	Ireland	7
8=	Finland	6
8=	Luxembourg	6
8=	Belgium	6
11=	Greece	5
11=	Cyprus	5
11=	Czechia	5
11=	Denmark	5
	Europe Avg	3.5
	World Avg	-1.9
q=123.

With respect to commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, Belgium comes 8th-best in the world.

Human Rights Watch comments concentrate mostly on negative issues, however, they also make positive comments for those countries that engage in human rights defence around the world, or who make improvements at home. By adding up positive and negative comments (including double-points for negatives that involve large scales and crimes against humanity), the Social and Moral Index turns HRW commentary into quantified values. Some countries may be unfairly penalized because HRW have not examined them, and, some countries "get away" with abuses if they manage to hide it, or if it goes unnoticed - a negative point has been given for those countries in which HRW specifically state that access to investigators has been barred. The points were limited to a minimum of -10 because there are some points at which things are so bad, with abuses affecting so many, it is difficult to be more specific about the depths of the issues.

For more, see:

• "Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2019).

2.6. Nominal Commitment to HR

#human_rights

Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better7
Pos.		2009 Treaties7
1	Argentina	24
2=	Chile	23
2=	Costa Rica	23
	...
14=	Italy	22
14=	Denmark	22
14=	Croatia	22
14=	Belgium	22
14=	Austria	22
19=	Brazil	21
19=	Montenegro	21
19=	Guatemala	21
	Europe Avg	19.5
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

Belgium ranks 14th-best in the world regarding its nominal commitment to Human Rights.

There are many international agreements on human rights, and, many mechanisms by which countries can be brought to account for their actions. Together, these have been the biggest historical movement in the fight against oppression and inhumanity. Or, putting it another way: these are rejected mostly by those who wish to oppress inhumanely. None of them are perfect and many people object to various components and wordings, but, no-one has come up with, and enforced, better methods of controlling the occasional desires that states and peoples have of causing angst for other states and peoples in a violent, unjust or inhumane way. Points are awarded for the number of human rights agreements ratified by the country, plus the acceptance of the petition mechanisms for disputes. The maximum possible score in 2009 was 24.

For more, see:

• "Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2019).

2.7. HR Treaties Lag

#human_rights #international_law #micronesia #politics #small_islands

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better24
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty24
1	Ecuador	2.15
2	Uruguay	2.25
3	Tunisia	3.65
	...
65	Nicaragua	8.10
66	Guatemala	8.10
67	Netherlands	8.29
68	Belgium	8.30
69	Greece	8.44
70	Kenya	8.58
71	Eritrea	8.66
72=	Paraguay	8.78
	Europe Avg	9.09
	World Avg	10.02
q=195.

Belgium is positioned 68th in the world when it comes to speed of uptake of HR treaties.

Human Rights (HR) Treaties Lag is a count of how long it took each country to sign each of 11 key HR treaties. From the date of the first signatory of each treaty, all other countries have one point added to their score for each day they delayed in signing. Results are presented as average time in years to sign each one. The lower a country's score, the more enthusiastically it has taken on international Human Rights Treaties - which are, of course, minimal standards of good governance. The slowest are the countries of Micronesia, Melanesia, Australasia and Polynesia all lagged by over 12 years per treaty. The best regions are The Americas, Scandinavia and the Mediterranean.

For more, see:

• " Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

3. Gender Equality Datasets

#belgium

Belgium is notable for its equality between the sexes.

See:

• "Religion Versus Womankind" by Vexen Crabtree (2007)

Human Rights Watch's 2018 report states that Belgium's support of women's rights at home and internationally has been exemplary₁₂.

3.1. Gender Inequality

#gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #women

Gender Inequality Lower is better6
Pos.		20226
1	Denmark	0.01
2	Norway	0.01
3	Switzerland	0.02
	...
8	Singapore	0.04
9	Iceland	0.04
10	Luxembourg	0.04
11	Belgium	0.05
12	Austria	0.05
13	Italy	0.06
14	Spain	0.06
15	Slovenia	0.06
	Europe Avg	0.12
	World Avg	0.34
q=166.

Belgium ranks 11th-best in the world regarding opposing gender inequality.

The UN Human Development Reports include statistics on gender equality which take into account things like maternal mortality, access to political power (seats in parliament) and differences between male and female education rates. Gender inequality is not a necessary part of early human development. Although a separation of roles is almost universal due to different strengths between the genders, this does not have to mean that women are subdued, and, such patriarchalism is not universal in ancient history. Those cultures and peoples who shed, or never developed, the idea that mankind ought to dominate womankind, are better cultures and peoples than those who, even today, cling violently to those mores.

For more, see:

• "Gender Equality" by Vexen Crabtree (2023).

Throughout the 1990s to 2010s, Belgium sat amongst the 10 countries with the least amount of Gender Inequality.

Averages by decade for Belgium (for the ranks, lower is better):

Gender Inequality	1990s  Average	2000s  Average	2010s  Average
Belgium:	0.16	0.11	0.07
World Rank:	10th	⇡  7th	⇣  9th
World Avg:	0.44	0.41	0.37

3.2. Year Women Can Vote

#christianity #gender_equality #human_rights #politics #women

Year Women Can Vote Lower is better
Pos.		Total Year
1	New Zealand	1893
2	Australia	1902
3	Finland	1906
	...
71=	Argentina	1947
72=	S. Korea	1948
72=	Israel	1948
72=	Belgium	1948
72=	Niger	1948
72=	Suriname	1948
72=	Seychelles	1948
78=	Costa Rica	1949
	Europe Avg	1895
	World Avg	1930
q=189.

Belgium comes 72nd in the world in terms of the year from which women could participate in democracy.

Women now have equal rights in the vast majority of countries across the world. Although academic literature oftens talks of when a country "grants women the right to vote", this enforces a backwards way of thinking. Women always had the right to vote, however, they were frequently denied that right. The opposition to women's ability to vote in equality with man was most consistently and powerfully opposed by the Catholic Church, other Christian organisations, Islamic authorities and some other religious and secular traditionalists.

For more, see:

• "Gender Equality" by Vexen Crabtree (2023).

4. Prejudice Datasets

4.1. Anti-Semite Opinions

#antisemitism #christianity #germany #indonesia #jordan #judaism #laos #morocco #netherlands #pakistan #philippines #religion #religious_violence #saudi_arabia #spain #sweden #turkey #UK #vietnam

Anti-Semite Opinions Lower is better11
Pos.		2014 %11
1	Laos	0
2	Philippines	3
3	Sweden	4
	...
35=	Haiti	26
35=	Mongolia	26
35=	Switzerland	26
38=	Belgium	27
38=	Germany	27
38=	Slovenia	27
41=	Austria	28
41=	Latvia	28
	Europe Avg	29.9
	World Avg	36.8
q=101.

Belgium is positioned 39th in the world regarding its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice.

Anti-Semitism is the word given to irrational racism against Jews. It's not the same as anti-Judaism (arguments against the religion) nor the same as anti-Zionism (arguments against Israel). In history, influential Christian theologians concocted the arguments against Jews that led, very early on, to widespread Christian action against Jews_25,26,27,28. As Christianity rose to power in the West and presided over the Dark Ages, there were repeated violent outbursts against Jews of the most horrible kind. Entire Crusades were aimed at them and the feared Spanish Inquisition paid Jews particular attention. The horror of the holocaust instigated by German Nazis in the 1940s was followed (finally) by the era of European human rights and a movement against racism in general.

The places that are the least anti-Semitical are a few countries of south-east Asia (Laos, the Philippines and Vietnam) and some of the secular liberal democracies of Europe (Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK). The worst countries for antisemitism are Islamic states of the Middle East₂₉, which are undergoing their own Dark Age. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco, Indonesia, Pakistan and Turkey see the most oppressive and violent actions towards Jews_30,31. Jews in Muslim countries face a host of restrictions and "ceaseless humiliation and regular pogroms"₃₂. In 2004 the European Union Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia reported on violent anti-Jew crimes in the EU and found that that largest group of perpetrators were young Muslim males₃₃.

For more, see:

• "Anti-Semitism" by Vexen Crabtree (2017).

4.2. LGBT Equality in the 2020s

#belgium #equality #homosexuality #human_rights #ICCPR #intolerance #netherlands #sexuality #tolerance

Belgium has set excellent examples of tolerance and respect in removing legal inequalities for LGBT folk. In 1998 registered-partnerships allowed some rights, but in 2003 full same-sex marriage was made legal₃₄. Even though it was uncontroversial and had widespread support, the law was not passed until a time when the Christian Democratic Party, allied with the Catholic Church was not in power₃₄, as the Catholic Church had campaigned consistently against legal tolerance. In 2006, the parliament also granted same-sex partners the right to adopt children₃₄, again, against the doctrine of the (largely ignored) Catholic Church.

LGBT Equality in the 2020s Higher is better9
Pos.		Total Score9
1=	Germany	4.88
1=	Spain	4.88
3	Portugal	4.81
	...
15=	Uruguay	3.81
15=	Denmark	3.81
15=	Australia	3.81
18	Belgium	3.73
19	Finland	3.71
20	Sweden	3.70
21	Austria	3.66
22	S. Africa	3.60
	Europe Avg	1.77
	World Avg	-1.21
q=215.

Belgium comes 18th-best in the world in terms of LGBT equality in the 2020s.

Discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) folk is rife across the world. Legal restrictions co-exist alongside social stigmatisation and physical violence₃₅. LGBT tolerance and equal rights have been fought for country-by-country against tightly entrenched cultural and religious opposition. Adult consensual sexual activity is a Human Right and protected by privacy laws₃₆. Despite this, it is illegal to be homosexual in over 60 countries (as of 2025)₃₇. The Vexen LGBT Equality Index as part of the Social and Moral Development Index grants points to each country depending on its LGBT stance since the 1970s_38,39. Europe is by far the least prejudiced region, but in the Middle East and Africa cultural prejudice goes hand-in-hand with state intolerance, all too often including physical violence.

For more, see:

• " LGBT Rights Across the World: Which are the Best and Worst Countries?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Belgium did not criminalize homosexuality in the premodern era from at least 1795 onwards; in the 19th-20th centuries 'public indecency' laws began to be used to harass homosexuals, and in 1965 homophobia moved Belgium to raise the homosexual age-of-consent 2 years above the heterosexual age, until 1985 when it was equalized fairly at 16 for all. In 2003 Belgium became the 2nd country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, after the Netherlands in 2001.

ILGA researchers in 2017 found that Belgium had legal protections against anti-LGBT employment discrimination, hate crime, incitement and other protections.

Actions taken at the United Nations:

•  ⇡  Supported a 2003 resolution at the UN Commission tabled by Brazil, on prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and supported it in 2004 (it was defeated both times by the Vatican and a collection of Islamic countries).
•  ⇡  Supported the 2006 Norway Joint Statement on sexual orientation and gender identity at the UN.
•  ⇡  Supported the 2008 Declaration at the UN General Assemly affirming LGBTQ rights, tabled by Argentina.
•  ⇡  Voted in favour of the 2011 Resolution at the UN Human Rights Council posted by South Africa, requesting a report on discrimination and violence against LGBTQ folk.
•  ⇡  In 2025, signed the UN Human Rights Council Joint statement on ending acts of violence and human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
•  ⇣  Voted for the 2016 UN Human Rights Council Resolution 32/2 to create the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
•  ⇡  In 2019, voted to renew the UN Human Rights Council Independent Expert on discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
•  ⇡  In 2025, voted to renew the UN Human Rights Council Independent Expert on discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Averages by decade for Belgium (for the ranks, lower is better):

LGBT Equality	1970s  Average	1980s  Average	1990s  Average	2000s  Average	2010s  Average	2020s  Average
Belgium:	0.00	0.25	0.50	5.75	6.70	3.73
World Rank:	34th	⇣  38th	⇡  20th	⇡  7th	⇡  5th	⇣  18th
World Avg:	-2.98	-2.87	-2.60	-2.15	-1.10	-1.21

4.3. Freedom of Thought

#europe #freedom_of_belief #freethought #human_rights #netherlands #religion #religious_tolerance #secularism #the_enlightenment

Freedom of Thought Lower is better3
Pos.		20213
1=	Belgium	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
1=	Netherlands	1.0
4=	Ecuador	1.3
4=	Bolivia	1.3
4=	Sao Tome & Principe	1.3
4=	Nauru	1.3
4=	France	1.3
9=	Sweden	1.5
9=	Iceland	1.5
9=	Norway	1.5
9=	Congo, (Brazzaville)	1.5
	Europe Avg	2.6
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

Belgium is positioned best in the world regarding freethought.

Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Belief are upheld in Article 18 the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights₄₀. It affirms that it is a basic human right that all people are free to change their beliefs and religion as they wish₄₁. No countries voted against this (although eight abstained). This right was first recognized clearly in the policies of religious toleration of the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe in the post-enlightenment era₄₂ of the 19th century. In democratic countries, freedom of belief and religion is now taken for granted₄₃. In 2016 a study found that over 180 countries in the world had come to guarantee freedom of religion and belief₄₄. The best countries at doing so are Belgium, The Netherlands and Taiwan_3,45 and the worst: Afghanistan, N. Korea, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia_3,46.

Long-term studies have shown that religious violence and persecution both decrease in cultures where religious freedom is guaranteed₄₇. Despite this, there still are many who are strongly against freedom of belief₄₁, including entire cultures and many individual communities of religious believers. Their alternative is that you are not free to believe what you want and they often state that you cannot change religion without being punished (often including the death penalty): this is bemoaned as one of the most dangerous elements of religion₄₈ and "the denial of religious freedoms is inevitably intertwined with the denial of other freedoms"₄₉ and the solution is, everywhere, to allow religious freedom and the freedom of belief.

For more, see:

• "Freethought - Freedom of Belief and Freedom of Religion" by Vexen Crabtree (2022).