Unione degli Atei e degli Agnostici Razionalisti

The Union of Rationalist Atheists and Agnostics (Unione degli Atei e degli Agnostici Razionalisti, UAAR) is the only nationwide association of atheists and agnostics in Italy. It is completely independent from political parties or lobbies of any kind. It numbers around 3,000 members. 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;s activities include the following: Since December 1996, UAAR has regularly published the bi-monthly magazine L&s;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&s; rights; they have, for instance, obtained recognition of the right for those baptised as infants to be considered no longer Catholic if they wish. Through its membership of the Humanists International (HI) and European Humanist Federation (EHF), UAAR collaborates with other humanist organisations on international issues; its logo references the Happy Human symbol, in common with other humanist organisations. Among UAAR&s;s main goals is the abrogation of article 7 of the Italian Constitution, which recognises the Lateran Treaties between Italy and Vatican City.