Founded in 1946 by Dr. Jean NUSSBAUM assisted by Mrs. Eleanor ROOSEVELT, the first President of Honorary Committee of the AIDLR.
A Non-governmental organization with participatory status to the United Nations (UN), ECOSOC Committee in New York and Geneva, in the Council of Europe (CoE) in Strasbourg and to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Warsaw.

Declaration concerning the war in Ukraine

Europe is experiencing the worst situation of conflict on the continent since the Second World War, due to the seriousness of the invasion of a sovereign State by another. Adding to the conflict is the danger of involvement of neighboring countries or escalation in the type of weapons used, and, above all, the tragic situation […]

Religious minorities vulnerable in conflict

UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief report sites numerous violations of human rights. Hateful rhetoric is a powerful weapon to create harmful realities for minorities in fragile settings. Religious minorities are singled out for attacks both by authorities and private citizens in several countries. A rise in the number of conflicts globally […]

The AIDLR congratulates Roberta Metsola on her election as the President of the European Parliament

The AIDLR Associates and the AIDLR Secretary General express their sincere congratulations to Roberta Metsola on her election as President of the European Parliament. Our Association, whose raison d’être is the defence and promotion of the fundamental right to religious freedom, looks forward to Roberta Metsola’s mandate and, in particular, to the fundamental role of the European […]

Interview To Paulo Macedo, new AIDLR’s Secretary-General

What would be your first remarks after the appointment as AIDLR Secretary-General?There are two key points I would like to emphasize during this coming term: gratitude and responsibility. First of all, gratitude for the foundational idea of defending and promoting religious liberty—born in the mind, heart and will of Dr. Jean Nussbaum, followed by all […]

A Statement by the AIDLR Secretary General on Abuse of Power and Violence and its consequences on racism and religious persecution

Since its inception in 1946, the International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty (AIDLR) has stood up for human rights, freedom of conscience, and religious liberty for all people. The AIDLR assumed the task of gathering all international actors – such as religious leaders, politicians, diplomats, academia, civil society and others – to fight […]

Open Letter submitted by the AIDLR Secretary General to United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on «COVID-19, GOVERNMENTS’ ABUSE and VULNERABLE PEOPLE»

Dear High Commissioner, Today all the world’s attention is on COVID-19 pandemic, analyzing all aspects of this virus from the science to its political, economic, social and humanitarian consequences. We all live in the midst of the fear of death and suffering. Antonio GUTERRES clearly resumed what means this emergency for humanity: “The Covid-19 pandemic […]

H.E. Dr. AHMED SHAHEED, the United Nations SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR on FoRB, talked with the Secretary-General of the AIDLR, at the Palais des Nations, during the HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, on a sensitive discriminatory issue based on religious liberty

On 4th March 2020, during the 43rd Session of the Human Rights Council, the Secretary-General of the AIDLR met with Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief. The focus of their discussions was a discriminatory issue originating from within the European territory and having a religious liberty bias. The […]