Italian Union of Rationalist Atheists and Agnostics
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The Italian Union of Rationalist Atheists and Agnostics (UAAR) is the only nationwide association of atheists and agnostics in Italy. It is completely independent from political parties or lobbies of any kind. The adjective rationalist in its name, referring to both atheists and agnostics, signifies faith in reason as a point of reference for human beings.
UAAR was founded in 1991 to promote the diffusion of atheist and agnostic ideas, operate for a thoroughly secular State, and struggle against any privilege granted to the Roman Catholic religion and against any discrimination of nonbelievers.
UAAR's activities include the following:
- Since December 1996, UAAR has published L’Ateo (The Atheist) and in 1998 it created a website on the Internet.
- Besides seeking contacts with government representatives, UAAR is prepared to initiate legal actions to obtain the full acknowledgement for atheism and atheists' rights; they have, for instance, obtained recognition of the right for the baptised to be considered no longer Christians if they wish.
- Through their affiliation to International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) and European Humanist Federation (EHF) (in which UAAR represents Italy), UAAR engages in intellectual battles because Italy is the seat of the largest religion in the world and UAAR are de facto the front organisation involved in the struggle for secularism.
Among UAAR's main goals is the abrogation of article 7 of the Italian Constitution, which recognises the Lateran Treaties between Italy and Vatican City.
