The World Evangelical Alliance asks the Spanish government in Geneva to definitively confirm the restitution to pastors who were left without pensions so as to “reaffirm its credibility” before the Human Rights Council.
Reverend Samuel Munyir, from the World Evangelical Alliance, addressing the UN Human Rights Council during Spain's UPR on 26 September 2025. / Photo: [link]WEA at UN[/link].
The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) participated in the UN Human Rights Council's regular review in Geneva of Spain's compliance with human rights.
The Universal Periodic Review, as the regular process that all member countries undergo is called, focused a few days ago on the situation in Spain.
On 26 September, Reverend Samuel Munyir addressed the Spanish government as spokesperson for the WEA to remind the Spanish executive of the need to find a solution for retired evangelical pastors who still do not receive the pension to which they are entitled according to several final court rulings. You can read more about the history of this case here.
“We welcome [the Spanish government's] acceptance of recommendations promoting non-discrimination, including measures to protect religious minorities through legislative and policy adjustments”, began the WEA representative to the UN.
However, he added, “it is essential that promises translate into effective measures”. In this regard, Munyir said at the Human Rights Council session, “we wish to highlight the long-standing and unresolved situation of retired evangelical pastors in Spain who remain excluded from the national pension system”.
The representative emphasised that “although Spanish courts have issued successive final rulings in their favour, and although Spain has acknowledged before this Council since the previous cycle that these pensions should be granted, the situation of those affected remains unchanged”.
This paralysis can be explained “because no corresponding budgetary provisions have been adopted” by the Spanish government.
[photo_footer] The oral statement of the WEA at the UPR on Spain at the UN Human Rights Council session of 26 September 2025 in Geneva. [/photo_footer] The WEA considers that it is necessary to “correct this injustice” and, following discussions with the Spanish Evangelical Alliance, estimates that compensating evangelical pastors or their widows who did not receive a pension for working in pre-democratic times “would require only a very modest economic effort, yet it would have a profound impact on those pastors who have served their communities faithfully throughout their lives”.
The WEA spokesperson ended his speech, which can be read in full here, with an express request. “We respectfully urge the Government of Spain to give effect to its commitments by allocating the necessary budgetary resources to ensure access to pensions for retired Protestant pastors. Such action would not only deliver long-overdue justice to those affected, but also reaffirm the credibility of Spain’s commitments before this Council”.
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