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BHA announces new Head of Public Affairs
BHA news - Mon, 06/02/2012 - 01:00
Naomi Phillips, Head of Public Affairs at the British Humanist Association (BHA), is leaving the BHA after five years to manage the External Relations of the General Pharmaceutical Council.
Pavan Dhaliwal, who has been announced as Ms Phillips successor, comes to the BHA having worked in high level advisory and Head of Policy and Public Affairs roles for the past seven years as an equalities and human rights expert with a special interest in youth, criminal justice and education policy, including for the Government of Bermuda, and with race equality organisations the 1990 Trust, and Race on the Agenda. She was a founding member of the UK/US collaborative initiative Equanomics UK and is a trustee of CRJ UK, a charity working to tackle disproportionality in the criminal justice system, and of the gender equality organisation The Fawcett Society.
Naomi said, It has been an honour and privilege to work at the BHA and in particular to have the opportunity to lead our policy, public affairs and campaigns work, and to manage the fantastic staff and volunteers of our public affairs department. In the past five years the campaigns and public affairs work of the BHA has boomed. We have only a small staff team to work for our aims of achieving a secular state, and having humanist views heard on the important ethical issues of the day, whether thats on assisted dying, stem cell research or conscientious objection, helping to shape public debate, discourse and policy and weve faced big challenges. In spite of that, we have had some really significant successes of which we and our supporters can all be proud.
Crucially, it has not only been our independent work which has taken us forward but our close relationships with others, whether that is with the inspirational members of the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group who are tireless advocates for Humanism, with the Humanist Philosophers who make invaluable contributions giving depth and legitimacy to our campaigns work, or with the many coalitions and consortiums and expert groups with whom we work close on issues from Sex and Relationships Education to ending violence against women, to tackling faith-based homophobia.
I am proud to have made my own contribution to the work of the BHA in the past few years and thrilled that we have made such an impact on behalf of our members and supporters. I am sure we will continue to go from strength to strength.
Taking up her new post, Ms Dhaliwal said, I am delighted to be working for the British Humanist Association and to build upon the excellent work that has been achieved here. There are significant challenges and opportunities ahead, particularly in the areas of education, House of Lords reform, and in assisted dying but I am confident that we can engage decision makers and the wider public to represent the views of humanists, and advance secularism in UK public life.
BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson said,
Naomi has managed and led our campaigns right across the board, from campaigning for secular, inclusive public services, against Bishops in the Lords, and on equal marriage, to abortion rights, assisted dying, and on education. She has managed our media work and been a regular spokesperson for the BHA on local and national television and radio, as well as commenting in print and online. For four years Naomi has also administered the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group and has had responsibility for the BHAs parliamentary and political engagement, working closely with MPs and Peers from across the parties on legislation, debates, and more, helping to raise the profile of Humanism and other secularist issues in the corridors of power. Her contribution will be viewed with gratitude by all our supporters.
Pavan was recruited from a strong field and joins us at a time when her exceptional experience in achieving public policy change, and deep knowledge of equalities policy will be invaluable. We are all looking forward to working with her and to our public affairs work going from strength to strength.
Categories: Humanism
BHA wishes David Pollock a Happy 70th Birthday
BHA news - Fri, 03/02/2012 - 01:00
British Humanist Association (BHA) Trustee and President of the European Humanist Federation (EHF) David Pollock is today celebrating his 70th Birthday.
David has over fifty active years in the humanist movement, since he first became involved with the Oxford University Humanist Group in 1961. Since that time he has made an enormous contribution to Humanism both in Britain and internationally. He has been President of the EHF since 2006 and in those five years has been relentless in pursuing the humanist agenda of secularism, human rights and equality within European and international institutions: the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, the OSCE in Vienna, the EU institutions in Brussels. He has been a director of New Humanist magazine for over 30 years and a trustee of the BHA for 24 years, serving as its chair in the 1970s.
In more recent years he has chaired the BHAs Parliamentary Working Group and has worked tirelessly on its public policy and campaigning agenda and in 2011 received the Distinguished Service to Humanism Award from the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) at the World Humanist Congress in Oslo. He has contributed original thought to the movement as well as personal dynamism.
Speaking to The Times from Strasbourg, where he was meeting NGOs, ministers, and European humanists, he said: 'I absolutely ignore birthdays; life is a continuum, and I dont get any older.'
Nonetheless, we at BHA would like to wish David a Happy Birthday.
Categories: Humanism
Humanists rally for free expression
IHEU News - Thu, 02/02/2012 - 18:33
The International Humanist and Ethical Union has joined with its member organization One Law for All to hold a Rally for Free Expression in London on 11 February. The rally was organized to respond to the recent spate of attacks on free speech in the UK, including threats and censorship directed at Humanist student groups at the University of London (see IHEU stories at http://www.iheu.org/humanists-condemn-another-attack-atheist-expression-london-university and at http://www.iheu.org/threats-violence-force-cancellation-university-talk-sharia-law). -->
Categories: Humanism
Church of England clergy call for right to hold civil partnerships
BHA news - Thu, 02/02/2012 - 01:00
Over 100 Church of England clergy within the diocese of London have written a letter calling for the Church of Englands legislative assembly, the General Synod, to allow individual priests to make the decision whether to hold civil partnerships on their premises, according to newspaper reports today.
An amendment in the 2010 Equality Act changed the law and removed the prohibition on civil partnerships from being place in places of worship. This reform is explicitly permissive: no church or religious group is required to hold civil partnerships ceremonies if they do not wish to.
However, the Archbishop of Canterbury has previously expressed his opposition to civil partnerships being held in Church of England premises, and no priest is permitted to register their church for civil partnership ceremonies without approval of the General Synod, which is due to meet next week to discuss the issue.
Commenting on the reports, BHA Head of Public Affairs Pavan Dhaliwal said: We are pleased that gay Quakers, Unitarians and Liberal Jews will soon be able to celebrate legal partnerships in their own places of worship, and we hope that members of the Church of England will soon be able to do the same if they wish.
However, while these incremental changes are to be welcomed, we believe that marriage law requires much deeper reform, and discrimination against same-sex and heterosexual humanist couples persists.
Ms Dhaliwal continued, Despite their popularity in Scotland, humanist weddings have no legal status in the England and Wales, and the reforms of civil partnerships have not been extended to humanists. We will continue to advocate reform that encompasses both heterosexual and same-sex marriage, allowing all couples the choice of a civil, religious or humanist marriage, on a truly equal basis.
Notes
For further information or comment, please contact Pavan at pavan@humanism.org.uk or
Times article (paywall)
BBC article
Humanist weddings in Scotland were granted legal status in 2005, and are now the third most popular ceremony, and ahead of the number of Catholic weddings
Read the BHAs briefing on marriage law and civil partnerships
The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.
Categories: Humanism
New rules on setting up schools in England come into force
BHA news - Wed, 01/02/2012 - 01:00
New rules on setting up English schools introduced by the Education Act 2011 have come into force today. The British Humanist Association (BHA) has called the changes a regressive step in further entrenching favouritism enjoyed by faith school proposals in the school creation process.
Where a local authority recognises a need for a new school, the changes strongly give preference to all new schools being Free Schools, whilst only allowing new local authority-run foundation and community schools to be proposed once all other options have been exhausted. However, they also make it even easier for faith groups to set up voluntary aided schools independently of any request for new schools made by the local authority. Local authorities cannot propose faith schools, so these changes will strongly increase the likelihood that new schools will be faith schools. And as voluntary aided faith schools and faith Free Schools are the two most extreme type of faith school able to religiously discriminate in employment, admissions and RE these new rules will strongly increase the religiosity of many new faith schools that are set up.
BHA Faith Schools Campaigner Richy Thompson commented, These changes represent a regressive step in that they further entrench the favouritism enjoyed by faith school proposals in the school creation process. Already, faith-based proposals have a much easier time getting the green light, as they do not need to enter into competition. And now things are only going to get worse.
We will continue to campaign to expose the inequality in this area, and ultimately for a more positive reform of the law.
Categories: Humanism
Position announcement: Communications Officer
IHEU News - Mon, 30/01/2012 - 14:27
An excellent opportunity for an experienced Communications Officer has arisen within the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), the world union of Humanist and other non-religious organizations. -->
Categories: Humanism
Homosexuality is not a problem to be cured conversion Church conference reaches London
BHA news - Fri, 27/01/2012 - 01:00
A touring conference programme titled 'The Lepers Amongst Us: Homosexuality and the Life of the Church' is due to go ahead in London today despite condemnation from community groups where the conference has been previously held, and criticism from professional organisations declaring conversion or reparative therapies, which seek to cure gay people, as harmful.
Commenting on the event, which is being organised by the American-based Core Issues Trust, the British Humanist Association (BHA) Head of Public Affairs Naomi Phillips said:
The Core Issues Trust state they wish to work with those who seek to change from a gay lifestyle to a gender-affirming one, however the suggestion that homosexuality is a problem in need of a cure is deeply insulting to lesbian, gay and bisexual people, profoundly objectionable, and wrong.
Specious claims that someones sexual orientation can be changed through religion or therapy lack any credible basis, and conversion therapy can prove extremely harmful, especially where vulnerable individuals are being targeted. These kinds of biblically-inspired attempts to change sexual orientation have been repeatedly denounced by the UK Council for Psychotherapy, the British Medical Association, and the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
The BHA has previously commented on reports that a Christian registered psychotherapist used Sexual Orientation Change Efforts to try to convert a gay man to being heterosexual.
Categories: Humanism
Largest proposed Free School attempts to increase religious discrimination by circumventing faith-based admissions and employment laws
BHA news - Fri, 27/01/2012 - 01:00
Becket Keys Church of England School in Brentwood, Essex, the largest Free School to have been pre-approved to open by the Department for Education, has been accused today of attempting to circumvent the 50% faith-based admissions requirement imposed by the Department for Education (DfE), and also of breaking the rules on religious requirements in employing teachers. The accusations come in correspondence from the British Humanist Association (BHA) to the DfE asking the DfE to pay closer attention to the behaviour of the school, which is due to open in September.
If oversubscribed, Becket Keys currently proposes to select half their pupils (75) with reference to faith, then select a further 43 pupils from two feeder schools which in turn select entirely with reference to faith, and 20 places from a feeder school which selects at least 10 pupils with reference to faith. Therefore, it is very conceivable that in some years some 85% of pupils at Becket Keys will be selected with reference to faith.
BHA Faith Schools Campaigner Richy Thompson commented, The Free Schools model Funding Agreement requires that The Academy will adopt admission criteria that provide that, if oversubscribed, at least 50% of its places available each year will be allocated without reference to any faith-based admission criteria. Selecting 50% on basis of faith and then 35% from a group that was in turn selected on basis of faith, is equivalent to selecting 85% on basis of faith, and must therefore surely break this 50% rule.
In addition, in the Brentwood Gazette on 12 October, Andy Scott-Evans, one of the 2 junior school heads who organised the bid, is quoted as saying For the staff, if it is a matter of choosing a good teacher who is a Christian or a fantastic teacher who is not we would go for the fantastic teacher. Ideally we would have a fantastic teacher who is a Christian.
Mr Thompson continued, European employment laws are clear that, where reference to religion or belief is made as an occupational requirement, it must at a minimum be legitimate, genuine and justified. In other words, either there is a genuine requirement for staff members to be Christians, or there isnt such requirements cannot be applied selectively in the manner Mr Scott-Evans proposes, after people have applied.
We have taken these points up with the Department for Education, and hope that they will pay closer attention to the behaviour of all Free Schools due to open this September and beyond.
Becket Keys is to open on the site of Sawyers Hall College, a community school which is due to close this summer because of insufficient demand for places. A University Technical College and a Studio School, both inclusive, were also proposed to open on the vacated site, but both proposals were turned down by the DfE.
Categories: Humanism
BHA marks Holocaust Memorial Day
BHA news - Fri, 27/01/2012 - 01:00
The British Humanist Association Chief Executive Andrew Copson commented on the commemorations being held for Holocaust Memorial Day:
Though this day marks a full sixty-seven years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on the 27th January 1945, it is hard to foresee a time when we will not be profoundly moved by the end to one of the darkest chapters in human history. We take this opportunity to collectively honour all the innocent victims of the Nazi regime; from those who were interned or executed within the camps, to those who were persecuted under the totalitarian system, including many fellow humanists.
Mr Copson continued The holocaust was an atrocity committed not only against individuals, but against humanity. As we unite in remembrance across boundaries of nations and beliefs, the lessons of totalitarianism carry a particular resonance for humanists, who strive to promote and protect the dignity of the individual, and to treat them with the fairness and respect that was so strikingly lacking during that period. Today serves as a stark reminder of our obligation as human beings to challenge injustice, and the dogmatism that feeds it, wherever it arises.
Categories: Humanism
International Humanists protest Indonesia blasphemy arrest
IHEU News - Thu, 26/01/2012 - 15:25
The International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) is calling for the Indonesian government to guarantee the freedom and safety of Alexander Aan, an Indonesian arrested for blasphemy. IHEU -- the global union of more than 100 Humanist and atheist groups from 40 countries including Indonesia -- has also raised Aan’s case with the United Nations. Aan was arrested for blasphemy last week in Dharmasraya, in the province of West Sumatra. -->
Categories: Humanism
Change in Free School model funding agreement requires promotion of democracy, equality of opportunity, respect, tolerance and the rule of law
BHA news - Tue, 24/01/2012 - 01:00
Additional changes recently made by the government to Free School model funding agreement include requiring schools to promote democracy, equality of opportunity, respect, tolerance and the rule of law. The changes, which promote values supported by the British Humanist Association (BHA) and emphasise that there is one law for all, represent a significant victory in the campaign against extremism, and in favour of citizenship education.
The new requirement is one of many changes that were recently made, which also saw Free Schools become unable to teach against the scientific consensus, and also a check placed on plans for faith groups to take over Academies without a religious character. The new rules in this area state:
The Academy Trust shall ensure that principles are promoted which support fundamental British values, including: respect for the basis on which the law is made and applied in England; respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic processes; support for equality of opportunity for all; support and respect for the liberties of all within the law; and respect for and tolerance of different faiths and religious and other beliefs.
BHA Faith Schools Campaigner Richy Thompson commented, These changes represent a significant victory in ensuring Academies and Free Schools have to respect the shared citizenship that all British people enjoy, which includes liberty, equality, tolerance for other views, and respect for the rule of English law. The changes also represent a blow to those who would seek to impose alternative religious viewpoints that do not respect these values and this tolerance, and this is also to be welcomed.
It is hoped that the changes will also subsequently made to the Academy model funding agreements.
Categories: Humanism
LSE Atheist, Secularist and Humanist Society say giving offence is no crime
BHA news - Mon, 23/01/2012 - 01:00
The London School of Economics Student Union (LSESU) has instructed the London School of Economics Student Union Atheist, Secularist and Humanist Society (LSESU ASH) to remove cartoons featuring Jesus and Mohammed from their Facebook page. LSESU ASH is not complying with the instruction and has appealed to LSESU to withdraw it.
Categories: Humanism
Nadine Dorries' abstinence education bill withdrawn... but faith schools can still teach pupils how to 'cure gays'
BHA news - Fri, 20/01/2012 - 01:00
Nadine Dorries MP has withdrawn her Sex Education (Required Content) Bill, which sought to secure abstinence education for girls only, according to the Guardian. However, this good news comes amid reports that JFS a state-maintained Jewish school in London has taught pupils how to cure gays. The British Humanist Association (BHA) has welcomed the withdrawal of the Bill, but emphasised that the JFS incident shows the current inadequacy of Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) in state schools, and the urgent need for a comprehensive, statutory SRE curriculum.
Commenting on todays events in parliament, BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson said, If the Bill had been debated, it would not have been passed, and there was always a good chance that there would not be enough parliamentary time for it even to be debated. It would be nice to think that Mrs Dorries withdrew her Bill because she at last realised that abstinence "education" is a dangerously unrealistic and irresponsible proposition for our young people; in the more probable eventuality that her decision was guided by politics rather than a change of heart, we will all certainly need to remain on our guard against such foolish proposals in the future.
The fact that the Bill ever got tabled for a second reading at all has given all those who care about good quality, comprehensive sex and relationships education to say so, and take a stand against the sort of unevidenced ideologically motivated policy making that the Bill represented.'
Commenting on the JFS incident, Mr Copson continued, This highlights once again how inadequate SRE is as things stand. There is very little that schools are required to teach on SRE, and even without Ms Dorries bill, they can still choose to teach abstinence, or that homosexuality is a sin, or as in this case, that being gay is a curable disease. There is an urgent need for a comprehensive, high quality, statutory SRE curriculum that should be taught in all schools, including Academies, Free Schools and faith schools.
Categories: Humanism
BHA speech at protest against Nadine Dorries' abstinence education bill
BHA news - Fri, 20/01/2012 - 01:00
Nadine Dorries MP's proposed Sex Education (Required Content) Bill, which seeks to secure abstinence education for girls only, is due to have its second reading in the House of Commons later today. In May 2011 MPs voted the Bill through its first stage by 67 to 61 votes.
The British Humanist Association (BHA) has supported and helped organise a protest against the Bill, with BHA Education Campaigner Richy Thompson delivering the following speech:
Its great to be at todays rally representing the British Humanist Association, and its fantastic that the event has got such a good turnout. Im delighted to see so many people standing up for SRE.
So, lets be honest here. We know this Bill today may not be debated. And we know that if it is debated, its unlikely to pass.
But thats not why weve come out. Were here to say two things no to these attacks by this faith-based lobby, and yes to comprehensive, high quality sex education.
So, no to these attacks this Bill, and the fact that it has progressed this far, illustrates the growing influence of a lobby with vested faith-based interests in promoting and imposing a narrow, unshared and damaging perspective regarding sex education, sexual health and abortion rights; a perspective that is unsupported by the evidence. We oppose this lobby.
However, yes to comprehensive, high quality SRE all children and young people have a right to full, objective SRE in all schools, which should equip everyone the boys, as well as the girls with the information and skills they need to make their own informed and responsible decisions, including saying no to sexual activity if that is what they choose. There should be no opt-outs for parents, no opt-outs for Academies and Free Schools, and no opt-outs for faith schools.
We at the British Humanist Association support a secular state, with equal rights for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief. We believe that lives are best lived on the basis of reason and humanity. All the best evidence shows that abstinence education doesnt work, but comprehensive SRE does work and therefore we are delighted to campaign in support of SRE practitioners and teachers and delighted to support this demo today. Thank you.
Categories: Humanism
Final statement from UCL Atheist, Secularist and Humanist Society
BHA news - Thu, 19/01/2012 - 01:00
The University College, London (UCL) Atheist, Secularist and Humanist Society has issued a final statement on the recent events surrounding the publication of a cartoon on Facebook.
New Society President Michael Thor said:
'Since the cartoon image was put up in the event page of our pub social, many things have happened very quickly. First came the complaints, the Union complaints, our petition, then the counter-petition. These events were reported by various articles and blog posts, and it doesnt seem to stop. We are continuously being contacted to make a statement but we have a society to run and lives to get on with so we're making a statement now to mark an end to this immediate situation.
'What makes a student society is the ability to be open, foster community and - most importantly - encourage critical debate. The principal objective of our Society is to maintain a sceptical view on everything, be it astrology, numerology or theism. I am personally a strong believer of freedom of speech and I believe that it is a vitally important freedom to maintain. Freedom of speech guarantees the space for intellectual discourse, and in that space, people should be able to say what they want, without being afraid of censorship on the grounds of offence.
'By our publication of this image there was no intention to offend and I am sorry to hear that people took personal offence when viewing it. However, 'offence' was certainly inadequate grounds for the removal of the image to be requested by the UCL Union. Their policies need clarification to prevent this same situation from arising in the future.
'In the meantime, I am looking forward to maintaining the positive spirit and riveting discussions that characterise our Society on campus, both within our group and with other societies.'
Jenny Bartle, president of the National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies (AHS), commented:
Our members support the freedom of speech of religious societies on campus and we would hope for the same respect from them. Our members are also committed to working with their Student Unions to secure good relations between students with different beliefs. However, Unions should must also understand that the giving of offence does not constitute harassment and when it is the incidental by-product of legitimate activities, offence is not a good reason to inhibit free expression.'
Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of the British Humanist Association
(BHA) gave support to the society:
No one has the right not to have their most profound beliefs challenged - and in universities it should surely be encouraged. We will continue to support our affiliate society at UCL as they get back to business as usual, but the use of the grounds of offence to target non-religious student groups in particular is something that we will continue to monitor.'
Categories: Humanism
Members and supporters in Wales: Support an opt-out organ donation system
BHA news - Thu, 19/01/2012 - 01:00
The Welsh Governments proposals for introducing an opt-out organ donation system are to be welcomed, and such proposals should be introduced across the entire United Kingdom, the BHA has commented in response to a consultation held by the Welsh Government on organ donation.
Categories: Humanism
Talk at Queen Mary cancelled after threats of violence
BHA news - Tue, 17/01/2012 - 01:00
A talk organised yesterday by the Queen Mary Atheism, Secularism and Humanism Society on Sharia Law and Human Rights had to be cancelled after threats of violence.
The President of the Society, describes what happened:
Five minutes before the talk was due to start a man burst into the room holding a camera phone and for some seconds stood filming the faces of all those in the room. He shouted listen up all of you, I am recording this, I have your faces on film now, and I know where some of you live, at that moment he aggressively pushed the phone in someones face and then said and if I hear that anything is said against the holy Prophet Mohammed, I will hunt you down. He then left the room.
The same man then began filming the faces of Society members in the foyer and threatening to hunt them down if anything was said about Mohammed, he added that he knew where they lived and would murder them and their families. On leaving the building, he joined a large group of men, seemingly there to support him. We were told by security to stay in the Lecture Theatre for our own safety. On arriving back in the room I became aware that the doors that opened to the outside were still open and that people were still coming in. Several eye witnesses reported that when I was in the foyer a group of men came through the open doors, causing a disruption and making it clear that the room could not be secured. Unfortunately, the lack of security in the lecture theatre meant we and the audience had to leave and a Union representative informed the security that as students lives had been threatened there was no way that the talk could go ahead.
This event was supposed to be an opportunity for people of different religions and perspectives to debate, at a university that is supposed to be a beacon of free speech and debate. Only two complaints had been made to the Union prior to the event, and the majority of the Muslim students at the event were incredibly supportive of it going ahead. These threats were an aggressive assault on freedom of speech and the fact that they led to the cancellation of our talk was severely disappointing for all of the religious and non religious students in the room who wanted to engage in debate.
The police were contacted about the incident and the Society is waiting to hear how their investigation will proceed.
Jenny Bartle, president of the National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies (AHS), commented,
More and more atheist, humanist and secular student societies are forming on campuses across the UK and we deserve the same levels of respect as any other community. Our members have as much right as anyone else to participate in the free inquiry, discussion and debate which should exist in universities. The threats our members have received are both troubling and repugnant and we reject all attempts to counter debate with violence. At the same time, we welcome the support from across faiths that many of our societies experience on campus to help us secure the freedom to have our say, just as we support them in having the freedom to have theirs.
Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of the British Humanist Association (BHA) gave support to the society:
The attempted intimidation that this society has experienced is shocking. Free expression, the free exchange of ideas and free debate are hallmarks of an open society; violence and the threat of violence should never be allowed to compromise that, especially in our universities. We will work to support our affiliate society at Queen Marys and look forward to a speedy police investigation and resolution of this case.
Categories: Humanism
Government: Community schools will not be able to convert to 'faith' Academies in one step
BHA news - Mon, 16/01/2012 - 01:00
The Government has reassured the British Humanist Association (BHA) today that under new plans being drawn up, community schools will not be able to convert to faith Academies in one simple step, as had previously been reported and claimed by the Church of England (CofE). The BHA has welcomed the news, though taken the opportunity to again express its concern that faith groups are still able and seeking to expand their role in education through the Academies programme.
The plans were initially announced in the TES on 23 December by Rob Gwynne, the Church of Englands Head of School Strategy, with the report stating that Discussions are in progress with the Department for Education [DfE] about how the process for community schools wishing to become CofE faith academies can be made quicker and easier. At present, there have to be separate consultations dealing with academy and faith proposals, but plans are being devised that would allow them to be combined. Following on from this, the BHA alerted its members and supporters, who sent many hundreds of letters to Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove and to MPs.
In a promptly arranged meeting with the BHA today, David McVean, head of the DfEs School Choice, Organisation and Fair Access Division, said that contrary to the claims made in the press, there is absolutely no intention to combine the two consultations.
The government is planning a revision of the relevant regulations, following a consultation in May, however the intent is to make it no easier for the Church to take control of schools than is currently the case. The BHA has been promised that they will be included in discussions on the regulations prior to that point.
BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson commented, It is very welcome that despite the Churchs boasting, these plans are not to go ahead, but we do continue to be concerned about the Churchs stated ambitions in expanding its role in education, and the increased ease with which the Academies sector already allows this to happen. This would not have been possible even two years ago.
We will continue to work hard on reducing the expansion of the number of faith schools, and are grateful for the incredible support we have received on this issue.
Categories: Humanism
BHA responds to Home Office consultation on Public Order Act 1986
BHA news - Fri, 13/01/2012 - 01:00
The British Humanist Association (BHA) today submitted its formal response to a consultation on the Public Order Act 1986, and advised that the government follow through on an amendment to Section 5 proposed by Edward Leigh MP. If passed, the amendment would remove the term insulting while retaining the offence of abusive or threatening conduct. The move would strip police officials of their power to arrest people for behaviour they deem potentially insulting, and is supported by a number of other prominent human rights organisations, JUSTICE and Liberty, and by parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights.
Section 5 currently reads as follows:
5: Harassment, alarm or distress.
(1) A person is guilty of an offence if he
(a) uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour, or
(b) displays any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting, within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby.
The BHA strongly supports the change, as we consider the present inclusion of insulting in Section 5 to serve no public good, that it leads to unjust arrests, and that it stifles free speech and free expression.
Recent examples of arrests made under Section 5 include:
A 16 year old who protested outside the Church of Scientologys London headquarters holding a placard calling Scientology a dangerous cult. The charges were later dropped.
B&B owners Ben and Sharon Vogelenzang, who were accused of Islamophobia in a discussion with a guest. After two days of giving evidence, the case was thrown out.
Dan McAlpine, a Christian street-preacher who was charged under Sections 5 (1) and (6) of the Public Order Act 1986 for declaring homosexuality a sin. The charges were dropped as the police acknowledged they had insufficient grounds for his arrest. Despite the reasons given for Mr McAlpine's initial charge, gay rights activists including Peter Tatchell opposed the arrest on the grounds it limited free speech.
Categories: Humanism
Government announces another faith promotion initiative for 2012
BHA news - Fri, 13/01/2012 - 01:00
The government has announced its support for A Year of Service to recognise the role of faith in inspiring charitable work which will support religious-led volunteering days throughout 2012. The British Humanist Association (BHA) has said that while initiatives which bring together local communities and encourage volunteering can be really positive, focusing on religious groups is likely to be divisive and has called for the government to support truly inclusive community initiatives.
Launching the scheme, the Communities Secretary Eric Pickles MP said, Faith is a great motivator, and throughout the year people from different faiths regularly give something back, volunteering for projects that benefit individuals in need or their local neighbourhood. From donating food at the Christian Harvest festival, cleaning up a local park for Mitzvah Day or fund raising during Ramadan. We want to help them do what they do best, recognising that just a little support can make a big difference. The Year of Service is a chance to link these great efforts together throughout the year, strengthen the existing work carried out by faith groups and encourage greater levels of volunteering in neighbourhoods and among businesses, led by individual faith communities but involving people of all faiths and none.
The BHA believes that social cohesion and other community initiatives within and without the Big Society must focus on the contribution that all individuals and groups in the community can make.
BHA Head of Public Affairs Naomi Phillips commented, Initiatives which bring together local communities and encourage social participation can be really positive. It is unclear, however, why the government persists in its obsession to promote religion and focus on faith in its communities policies, when there is no evidence to suggest that religious groups do more for the wider community than others, or are better at leading voluntary action. Although the government says the days will be inclusive of religious and non-religious people, basing the programme on belief identity is likely to be inherently exclusive for many. We would like to see the government working to support truly inclusive, secular initiatives, which bring together and are driven by people of all different backgrounds and beliefs without privilege or discrimination.
The British Humanist Association (BHA) gave evidence to the parliamentary Public Administration Select Committee as part of its inquiry into the Big Society in July 2011, and made clear that a focus on religious groups is misguided, and there is no evidence to support claims that religious people do more than others in terms of volunteering or social action.
Speaking to the Committee, BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson said, In the UK there is no difference between non-religious [and religious] peoples charitable, civic or voluntary engagement. None at all. Referring to successive government citizenship surveys and other respected research, Mr Copson said there was no evidence that being non-religious or being religious puts you at any disadvantage, or being religious puts you at any advantage, in terms of your participation and the value of your individual contribution to society in the UK (http://www.humanism.org.uk/news/view/845).
Categories: Humanism
