In its response to the BBC Trust’s consultation on Purpose Remits, the BHA has made out the case (yet again!) for programmes about humanist beliefs. Pointing out that the BBC’s claim that “You can rely on the BBC to reflect the many communities that exist in the UK” is quite simply false, the BHA outlined the importance of giving humanists the opportunity to examine their own beliefs and helping others to understand the beliefs and values of the non-religious, and demands a change in policy.
“The BBC has told us year in year out that we have no cause for complaint as ‘secular voices dominate the airways’” said Hanne Stinson, BHA chief executive, “as if all programmes that are not about religion are about non-religious beliefs such as Humanism. That just isn’t good enough.”
The BBC Trust’s parallel consultation covered service licences, and the BHA has pointed out that the draft licences, which refer to religion throughout, are discriminatory, and lists all the changes required in the licences for the various BBC channels. “Correcting the BBC’s ‘religionist’ mindset is going to take time” said Hanne Stinson, “but at least correcting the wording of licences and policy papers is easy.”
Notes:
You can read the BHA’s responses to the two consultations here:
Purpose Remits consultation response
Service Licences consultation response
The consultation is now closed, but you can still read the consultation document here
The British Humanist Association (BHA) represents and supports the non-religious and campaigns for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief, and is the largest organisation in the UK working for a secular society.