July 5th, 2022
Laws requiring all schools in Northern Ireland to provide faith-based Christian religious education (RE) and collective worship breach human rights legislation, the High Court has found. In a landmark judgment handed down in the High Court in Northern Ireland today, Mr Justice Colton ruled that the exclusively Christian nature of RE and worship violates the […]
July 5th, 2022
Humanists UK Chief Executive Andrew Copson (in his capacity as President of Humanists International) has just spoken at the opening ceremony of the International Ministerial on Freedom of Religion or Belief. The conference is being hosted today and tomorrow in London by the UK Government. The focus is ‘to urge increased global action on Freedom […]
July 4th, 2022
A Westminster Hall debate on assisted dying this evening saw a cross-party group of MPs emphasise the need for a public inquiry on assisted dying. This included Lucy Allan, a member of the Health & Social Care Committee, and Matt Hancock, former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. More MPs spoke in favour of […]
July 4th, 2022
Assisted dying will be debated in Westminster Hall on 4 July at 16:30. Humanists UK has expressed hope that it will highlight the urgent need for MPs to work towards a solution that meets the needs of the UK public, where there is overwhelming support for a compassionate assisted dying law. However, today’s will not […]
July 4th, 2022
Humanist Climate Action has told the UK Government it must strengthen its proposed environmental targets to protect against the further degeneration of our biodiversity, woodland cover, and air quality. Its call was made in response to a consultation by the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs on its plan to develop legally binding long-term […]
July 4th, 2022
On 5-6 July, the UK Government is hosting the annual International Ministerial on Freedom of Religion or Belief in London. The focus will be ‘to urge increased global action on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all.’ Humanists UK is participating extensively in the Conference. Its Chief Executive Andrew Copson (in his capacity as […]
July 1st, 2022
Northern Ireland Finance Minister Conor Murphy has announced the Government’s intention to write humanist marriages explicitly into Northern Irish law. The decision follows a public consultation that Northern Ireland Humanists responded to. Today it has welcomed the announcement. Humanist marriages have been legally recognised in Northern Ireland under case law since 2017, following a campaign […]
June 28th, 2022
It is with deep sadness that we learned of the death of our patron, the eminent neurobiologist and humanist campaigner Sir Colin Blakemore. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon in June 1944, Sir Colin’s love of science was first kindled after winning a place at the King Henry VIII grammar school in Coventry, where he went on to […]
June 26th, 2022
At their Annual General Meeting in Belfast today, members of Humanists UK adopted a call for the policy of deporting asylum claimants to Rwanda to be brought to an end, calling the policy ‘dehumanising and immoral’. Their call has been welcomed by Humanists UK patron and leading child refugee campaigner Alf Dubs, who said that […]
June 26th, 2022
Hundreds of humanists from across the UK converged in Belfast this weekend for Humanists UK’s first in-person Convention in three years. As well as being a chance to connect with like-minded people, discuss and debate ideas, and explore the many ways humanists are campaigning for a better society and helping non-religious people to lead happier, […]
June 24th, 2022
Today, the US Supreme Court struck down Roe v Wade – the 50 year-old ruling which made access to abortion a constitutional right in the United States. By a margin of six to three, the Supreme Court judges removed this right, instead allowing individual states to regulate abortion access. 26 states are expected to shortly […]
June 24th, 2022
Humanists UK is saddened to hear of the death of Baroness Sally Greengross OBE, member of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group (APPHG) and crossbench peer. Baroness Greengross was elected as an independent member of the House of Lords in 2002 and co-chaired several All-Party Parliamentary Groups focussed primarily on older life care. As a committed […]
June 23rd, 2022
Amendments to the Schools Bill were debated in the House of Lords last night that would improve the UK Government’s plans to tackle illegal schools. Humanists UK has led the campaign for many years to close down such ‘schools’ in England, many of which are religiously extreme in nature with little to no secular education […]
June 23rd, 2022
A new bill has been published that proposes to make explicit that religious education (RE) in England must be fully inclusive of non-religious worldviews such as humanism. It also proposes to rename the subject to ‘religion and worldviews’. The Education (Non-religious Philosophical Convictions) Bill is sponsored by Liberal Democrat Peer Baroness Burt of Solihull, who […]
June 22nd, 2022
The UK, Welsh, and Northern Ireland Governments have refused to act upon United Nations human rights recommendations, by stating they have no plans to reform the archaic collective worship laws. The latest refusal came as part of the UK’s Response to the UN Committee’s List of Issues on the Rights of the Child. Humanists UK […]
June 22nd, 2022
Ahead of the Humanists UK Convention in Belfast, Humanists UK and Northern Ireland Humanists are excited to announce the launch of a Humanist Heritage walk in collaboration with walking app Go Jauntly – this time exploring humanist history in Belfast. Belfast is a city with a long, rich, and deep humanist heritage, spanning Enlightenment freethinkers, […]
June 22nd, 2022
Today, the UK Government has introduced a new Bill to Parliament that will undermine the Human Rights Act 1998, including by removing vital protections for non-religious people. The so-called ‘Bill of Rights’ – dubbed by its critics as, in fact, a Rights Removal Bill – will roll back a number of provisions within the Act […]
June 21st, 2022
At the UN Human Rights Council, Humanists UK and the Ozanne Foundation have raised the need for the UK protect all ‘conversion therapy’ victims. The call was made via a joint intervention to a debate with the UN’s Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Humanists UK […]
June 21st, 2022
Humanists UK asked the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights what actions are being taken to ensure that Afghan resettlement programmes are inclusive of non-religious refugees following the Taliban takeover last year. It further asked what mechanisms have been put in place so these refugees can be safely identified by the UN High Commission for […]
June 15th, 2022
David Pollock is our former trustee and a former President of the European Humanist Federation. In 2011, Humanists International gave David the Distinguished Services to Humanism Award. We caught up with David recently to discuss his journey into humanism, our campaigns, and his long and accomplished career. Hi David! How did you first discover the […]
June 14th, 2022
Amendments to the Government’s Schools Bill that would reform religious education, replace compulsory collective worship with inclusive assemblies, and end religious discrimination for teachers, were debated in the House of Lords on Monday night. Humanists UK has long called for changes to the law in these areas, and worked with members and supporters of the […]
June 8th, 2022
The Cineworld chain of cinemas has announced it has pulled all screenings of The Lady of Heaven following protests from Muslim groups claiming that the film contains ‘blasphemous’ content. Cineworld stated that this decision was made ‘to ensure the safety of [its] staff and customers.’ Humanists UK, which led the successful campaign to repeal the […]
June 7th, 2022
What is morality? Where did it come from? And how do humanists today approach these age-old questions? To explore the science of morality, we caught up with our Darwin Day Medallist, Dr Oliver Scott Curry, following our latest event ‘The Nature of Morality’, to talk about his research on the nature, content, and structure of […]
June 6th, 2022
Adam Rutherford has taken office as the new President of Humanists UK. The acclaimed geneticist, science writer, broadcaster, and humanist, succeeds Professor Alice Roberts. Alice, like her predecessors as President, now becomes a Vice President. Adam has been a high-profile ambassador and patron of Humanists UK for many years, advocating especially for robust science education […]
May 26th, 2022
Dr Alex Allinson MHK introduced an Assisted Dying Private Members’ Bill in the Isle of Man on Tuesday. Members of the island’s Parliament voted 22 to 2 for the Bill to be introduced. Humanists UK welcomes this Bill, which will see the Isle of Man follow Jersey and Scotland in exploring, debating, and voting on […]
May 25th, 2022
The All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group (APPHG) has elected SNP member Tommy Sheppard MP as its new Chair. Labour peer Baroness Bakewell remains as Co-Chair while Conservative MP Aaron Bell, was elected as the Group’s new Secretary. The APPHG is a cross-party group of Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords of […]
May 25th, 2022
Dr Henry Marsh addressed the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group (APPHG) yesterday to outline why he supports legal assisted dying. Dr Marsh is a renowned neurosurgeon and bestselling author of Do No Harm. Last year he was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, with a prognosis of between one and five years. The Group also heard from […]
May 25th, 2022
The Schools Bill, which contains long-awaited measures to tackle illegal schools, was debated for the first time in the House of Lords on Monday. The debate took place during the Bill’s Second Reading – the stage at which the broad principles of a bill are discussed. Humanists UK, which has long campaigned against illegal religious […]
May 13th, 2022
A new Bill that proposes to make explicit that religious education must be fully inclusive of non-religious worldviews such as humanism will be considered in the UK Parliament, after being drawn 22nd in the House of Lords Private Members’ Bill ballot yesterday. The Education (Non-religious Philosophical Convictions) Bill was tabled by All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group […]
May 13th, 2022
Two landmark pieces of legislation that have the potential to make a real difference to education in Northern Ireland have now received royal assent. The Integrated Education Act and the Fair Employment (School Teachers) Act were both championed by Northern Ireland Humanists during their passage through the Stormont Assembly. The new laws will end the […]
May 12th, 2022
Yesterday the Government published its Schools Bill, which contains significant implications for the influence of religion in schools. Humanists UK welcomes its measures to tackle illegal schools, having campaigned hard on this issue for over eight years. But it is concerned the Bill also has provisions codifying the rules on academies with a religious character. […]
May 11th, 2022
Non-religious people are being discriminated against in prisons in the provision of chaplaincy and pastoral care services, new research has found. The research, published in the International Journal of Law in Context, found a hierarchy of access in which the benefits of such services are more available to some prisoners than others. Dr Katie Hunt, […]
May 10th, 2022
Baroness Meacher’s Assisted Dying Bill and Baroness Burt’s Inclusive Assemblies Bill have both fallen. This has happened because any private members’ bills that are still outstanding on the day of a Queen’s Speech have their progress halted. Humanists UK has expressed its dismay at the outcome. The Assisted Dying Bill related to England and Wales, […]
May 10th, 2022
The UK Government has confirmed its intention to bring forward a new ‘Bill of Rights’ in today’s Queen’s Speech. The Bill will reform the Human Rights Act 1998 by making it harder for ordinary people to bring legal challenges when their rights have been violated. And it may have a specifically bad impact on freedom […]
May 9th, 2022
Humanist Climate Action has told the UK Government it must do more to protect and encourage the expansion of ‘carbon sinks’ such as rainforests, mangroves, peatland, and permafrost to prevent the devastating effects of climate change. Its call was made in response to a consultation by the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs on […]
May 9th, 2022
Humanists UK has sent a copy of The Little Book of Humanism to every prison library in the UK to address the current imbalance in resources available to non-religious prisoners. Many of those inside UK prisons will hold a humanist worldview and while services and resources are often made available for prisoners with religious beliefs, […]
May 9th, 2022
The Government has confirmed that a Bill to shut down illegal ‘unregistered’ schools will be included in tomorrow’s Queen’s speech, marking a major victory for Humanists UK’s long running campaign. The forthcoming Schools Bill will strengthen the definitions around such settings, give Ofsted more powers to crack down on unregistered schools, and establish a compulsory […]
May 6th, 2022
The UK Government has finally set out how it will take action to close the loopholes that allow illegal faith schools to operate in England. The much-anticipated proposals have been published today in the Government’s response to the Regulating independent educational institutions consultation. Humanists UK, and over 100 individual humanists, responded to the consultation in […]
May 3rd, 2022
Today Northern Ireland Humanists has published a table giving an overview of their views on issues of concern to their members and supporters, ahead of the upcoming Northern Ireland Assembly election. Northern Ireland Humanists put 7 questions to the various parties last month, and has produced the tables by drawing on these responses, the parties’ […]
April 29th, 2022
Today Humanists UK launched its ‘History of Humanism in 100 Objects’ series, telling the story of the people, places, ideas, and ideals which have shaped the organised humanist movement in the UK. From the original ‘happy human’ sketch, to Bertrand Russell’s teapot, to a model of the USS Enterprise, Humanists UK will be shining a […]
April 29th, 2022
Teachers have gone on strike, and Ofsted has found significant damage to morale, at a South London faith school forced by its diocese to cancel the visit of a gay author. In March the Archdiocese of Southwark overruled the staff to prevent author Simon James Green from making an educational visit on World Book Day, […]
April 28th, 2022
Today, protesters gathered together outside the Nigerian High Commission, sparked by the recent sentencing of the President of the Nigerian Humanist Association Mubarak Bala to 24 years in prison. Eddie Marsan read out devastating testimony from Mubarak about his treatment by authorities even prior to his arrest. The protest, organised by Humanists UK, also coincided […]
April 25th, 2022
In the House of Lords this afternoon, 11 peers from all major parties questioned the Government on its failure to legally recognise humanist marriages in England and Wales. This follows the Government’s decision in March to make outdoor civil and religious marriages permanent, but not humanist marriages. Humanists UK leads the campaign for the legal […]
April 20th, 2022
A very special Humanists UK event on 17 May will bring together our 2021 Darwin Day and Voltaire Lecturers, and the founder-member of the Humanist Philosophers Group, for what promises to be a challenging and thought-provoking exploration of the fundamental nature of morality. What is morality, and what is to be good? Questions concerning the […]
April 20th, 2022
The UK Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR), in a report published today, has condemned plans to reform the Human Rights Act 1998. It has stated that ‘the proposals and their consequences run counter to three central principles of human rights law.’ These are that human rights are universal, fundamental and require special protection […]
April 20th, 2022
A diagnosis of a serious health condition is associated with an elevated rate of death due to suicide according to new data released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) today. Almost 1,000 people with lung and heart conditions died by suicide in England between 2017 and 2020. In the wake of this study, Humanists […]
April 13th, 2022
Humanists UK has responded to IMPRESS’ public consultation on proposed changes to its Standards Code and guidance. IMPRESS stands for Independent Monitor for the Press. It regulates over 190 news publications. The proposed changes intend to make the standards code more equitable. But Humanists UK has highlighted the exclusion of the non-religious and called for […]
April 13th, 2022
In response to the sentencing of Nigerian Humanist Association President Mubarak Bala, Humanists UK is staging a protest outside the Nigerian High Commission. The protest will take place from 4-6pm on Thursday 28 April 2022. The protest, which calls for Bala’s release, will also mark the second anniversary of his arrest. Last week, Bala was […]
April 11th, 2022
The Queen’s Speech is going to announce a new Government Bill to shut down illegal schools in England, according to the Sunday Times. The paper reports that Ofsted, the schools inspectorate, will be granted new powers to enter such settings and remove evidence. Additionally, the previously announced compulsory register of home educated children is set […]
April 8th, 2022
Humanist Climate Action has responded to the UK Government’s consultation on new Biodiversity Net Gain regulations. In its response, it has welcomed the plans, but called on the Government to close various loopholes in them. Last year, the Environment Act 2021 introduced a requirement that all new developments, which go through the planning approval process, […]
April 7th, 2022
Ahead of potential legislation, the States Assembly in Jersey is seeking islanders’ views on assisted dying. Channel Islands Humanists has responded to the consultation, outlining the case for a change in law. The consultation response included examples of international laws as well as possible safeguards. Channel Islands Humanists is encouraging Jersey residents to share their […]
April 6th, 2022
Humanists UK has responded to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)’s consultation on ‘mercy killings’ and failed suicide pacts. The CPS sought the public’s views on updating legal guidance on homicide. This would assist prosecutors considering the public interest when dealing with suspects in deaths arising out of failed suicide pacts and so-called ‘mercy killings’. In […]
April 6th, 2022
Northern Ireland Humanists has called on the Department of Justice to use upcoming legislation on hate crime to repeal the country’s blasphemy laws and strengthen protections for freedom of expression. In response to a consultation on reforming hate crime laws, Northern Ireland Humanists stated: ‘Any legislative reform to hate crime laws in Northern Ireland would […]
April 5th, 2022
Mubarak Bala, the President of the Nigerian Humanist Association, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for posting ‘blasphemous’ content on Facebook. Bala had been in prison awaiting trial for the last two years, and humanists around the world have been campaigning for his release during that time. Today Humanists UK has condemned his […]
April 5th, 2022
Vulnerable children are missing out on local school places due to religious discrimination, according to yesterday’s annual report from the Office of the Schools Adjudicator (OSA). The OSA is the impartial body that regulates English schools’ compliance with the Admissions Code. Humanists UK said it was appalled by the findings. The report states on page […]
April 4th, 2022
The Royal College of Surgeons of England will review its opposition to assisted dying. The RCS, which covers England and Wales, will look to survey its members to inform the review. Humanists UK welcomes this review and hopes that the RCS will follow the lead of many other medical bodies in changing their position to […]
April 1st, 2022
An independent evangelical faith school has abandoned its support of Christian charity Samaritan’s Purse, and its annual shoebox appeal Operation Christmas Child (OCC). St Lawrence College in Ramsgate dropped OCC following a complaint from parents about the charity’s links to homophobia and anti-Muslim rhetoric. OCC uses Christmas gifts to proselytise to vulnerable children in the […]
April 1st, 2022
Yesterday evening the UK Government said it would renege on its commitment to ban the practice of so-called ‘conversion therapy’ in England and Wales. But following a backlash, the Government later performed a second u-turn. Current reports suggest that the Government will in fact ban conversion therapy, but now only when it is targeted at […]
April 1st, 2022
Sir Robert Buckland MP and Sir Peter Gross have spoken out against the Government’s planned changes to the Human Rights Act 1998. Sir Robert is the previous Justice Secretary to Dominic Raab, while former Court of Appeal Judge Sir Peter chaired the UK Government-commissioned Independent Human Rights Act Review Panel. They highlighted that the reforms […]
March 31st, 2022
The UK Government has abandoned its plans to ban conversion therapy in England and Wales. Humanists UK has long campaigned in favour of such a ban. Today it has expressed its severe dismay at the news. The news has come via a leak to ITV News, with the Government reportedly confirming the decision. The leaked […]
March 31st, 2022
As March comes to a close, Humanists UK Convention 2022 is now less than three months away. The weekend begins with the wildly popular Friday evening comedy, featuring Humanists UK patron Angela Barnes, The Blame Game’s Colin Murphy, Newsquiz’s Eleanor Tiernan, and hosted by Northern Ireland Humanists patron Tim McGarry. Over the course of Saturday […]
March 30th, 2022
MPs have voted by 215 votes to 188 to allow women in England to continue to access abortion services at home, overturning the Government’s recent decision to end this provision in August. Humanists UK has repeatedly called on the Government to make these measures permanent and briefed MPs in the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group (APPHG) […]
March 30th, 2022
Humanists UK has called on the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to address religious discrimination in the UK, as it prepares to carry out a review of the country’s human rights performance. Humanists UK argued that the state discriminates against the non-religious in a wide range of ways. It said that […]
March 29th, 2022
The Government has announced that it plans to change the law to help religious groups open more state-funded schools in England. The proposals appear in the latest Department for Education white paper, Opportunity for All. The paper also sees the Government announce more financial support for religious authorities to ‘academise’ schools. Humanists UK has expressed […]
March 29th, 2022
Humanists UK has today launched a new membership recruitment drive, fronted by a film from incoming president, Dr Adam Rutherford. Adam is an acclaimed geneticist, science writer, broadcaster, and humanist. He is appealing for new members to allow the continuation and growth of Humanists UK’s important work, including its important campaigns, services like pastoral care […]
March 28th, 2022
Humanists UK is delighted to welcome three new patrons into the fold: writer and historian S I Martin, novelist Sarah Hall, and economist James Forder. S I Martin is a writer and historian specialising in the fields of Black British history and literature. He’s published five books of historical fiction and non-fiction for adult and […]
March 25th, 2022
Last night the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill passed its final stage in the Northern Ireland Assembly by 55 votes to 29. This is the first time Assembly members have passed pro-choice legislation. The Bill will create safe zones in the immediate vicinity of abortion clinics to prevent harassment and intimidation of women by […]
March 25th, 2022
A Bill ending a religious exemption to anti-discrimination law in the recruitment of teachers passed its final stage in the Northern Ireland Assembly yesterday. The Fair Employment (School Teachers) Bill attracted cross-party support and was approved without a vote, to the sound of applause in the chamber. It will now become law. Northern Ireland Humanists […]
March 23rd, 2022
Acclaimed geneticist, science writer, broadcaster, and humanist Adam Rutherford will deliver the keynote address at Humanists UK Convention 2022, taking place 24-26 June in Belfast. The occasion will mark Adam’s first appearance as President of Humanists UK, succeeding current President Alice Roberts in June 2022. Tickets are available to purchase now. Adam uses his platform […]
March 22nd, 2022
Humanists UK has urged Pakistan to do more to protect religious and non-religious minorities. Speaking at the United Nations Human Rights Council, it has called on Pakistan to repeal its blasphemy law, which carries the death penalty, and to revive proposed legislation to protect minority groups from state-led persecution and mob violence. The intervention was […]
March 22nd, 2022
Humanists UK has today launched a new petition to the UK Secretary of State for Education. The petition calls on Nadhim Zahawi MP to remove the ability of state schools in England to choose their pupils on the basis of religion. The aim is to end these discriminatory admissions processes once and for all. The […]
March 18th, 2022
Humanists UK has urged the UN to keep the pressure on Iran to abolish the use of the death penalty for blasphemy and apostasy and to end its persecution of religious and non-religious minorities. The intervention was made by video by Humanists UK’s Education Campaigns Manager Robert Cann, as part of the UN Human Rights […]
March 17th, 2022
For the first lecture in its Humanist Heritage series, Humanists UK hosted writer, educator, and historian S.I. Martin for a lecture on ‘The Beliefs of Black Georgians’, introducing the life and works of a host of remarkable – but often overlooked – figures. Given the strength and influence of Christianity in Britain during ‘the long […]
March 17th, 2022
During last night’s late night sitting in the House of Lords, running beyond 2am, peers voted to allow women to continue to access abortion services at home. Prior to Covid, women were required to attend a clinic in person to access abortion pills. But since then, they have been able to receive the pills by […]
March 16th, 2022
The House of Lords has voted against an amendment to the Health and Care Bill that would have required UK Government action on assisted dying. The amendment would have required the Government to draft a bill on assisted dying within a year and lay it before Parliament. Humanists UK briefed peers in support of it, […]
March 16th, 2022
Ofsted has downgraded a state-funded Jewish school for unlawfully segregating girls. The King David High School in Manchester was given a rating of ‘inadequate’ by the schools inspectorate. It did so after inspectors found that female pupils attending the school’s single sex unit were being discriminated against. The school’s safeguarding arrangements were also described as […]
March 15th, 2022
The UK Government has today announced it will make permanent the legal recognition of outdoor civil and religious marriages in England and Wales. The decision follows a consultation on the matter, that Humanists UK responded to. Humanists UK has expressed its disappointment that similar reform has not been used to legally recognise humanist marriages. It […]
March 11th, 2022
Humanists UK Convention 2022 will take place in Belfast over 24–26 June, meeting in person for the first time in three years. As in previous years, the Convention will begin with a comedy night on the Friday evening – and the line-up for that event is now complete, with Angela Barnes, Colin Murphy, and Eleanor […]
March 11th, 2022
Northern Ireland Humanists has responded to a consultation on a Stormont Bill that seeks to outlaw religious discrimination in the recruitment of teachers. In its response, it has largely agreed with the proposals in the Fair Employment (School Teachers) Bill, stating that such discrimination must be abolished for both primary and secondary teachers. However Northern […]
March 11th, 2022
Humanists UK has urged the UN to keep pushing for the immediate release of the President of the Nigerian Humanist Association, Mubarak Bala, and to ask the Nigerian Government to repeal its law criminalising blasphemy. Mr Bala has been imprisoned without trial for almost two years, after facing accusations of blasphemy. UN experts have previously […]
March 10th, 2022
Tonight, Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE delivered the prestigious Humanists UK Rosalind Franklin Lecture, Reaching for the stars. The lecture was an inspiring exploration of Maggie’s journey into astronomy and physics, from budding young scientist to one of the nation’s most beloved astronomers. As in previous years, the Rosalind Franklin Lecture was chaired by the award-winning […]
March 10th, 2022
Channel Islands Humanists has sent the groundbreaking children’s book on humanism, What is Humanism, to every primary school in Jersey this week. Co-authored by Michael Rosen and Annemarie Young, the book has been sent to schools across Jersey to offer young people the opportunity to learn more about the humanist approach to life, as part […]
March 9th, 2022
A landmark Bill that will require the Northern Ireland Executive to aim to meet demand for places in integrated schools has today passed its final stage in the Assembly and will become law. The Bill also changes the definition of integrated education so that it explicitly includes the non-religious and those of minority faiths and […]
March 9th, 2022
Humanists UK has told the UK Government that proposals to reform the Human Rights Act 1998 ‘would be counterproductive and seriously risk undermining human rights protections for non-religious people’. It has done so in response to a consultation led by the Ministry of Justice. At present, the Act means that public bodies and the courts […]
March 9th, 2022
Humanists UK has expressed its outrage after the Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark reportedly banned a celebrated LGBT author from making educational visits to two state-funded Catholic schools. Simon James Green is the author of 11 children’s books, and his work has been nominated for numerous awards, including the Carnegie Medal and the Blue Peter Book […]
March 8th, 2022
Northern Ireland Humanists celebrant Sheena Bradley delivered BBC Radio Ulster’s Thought for the Day on International Women’s Day. Unlike the rest of the UK, where BBC policy bans non-religious people from contributing to the daily morning radio slot, humanists have been making regular contributions to Thought for the Day in Northern Ireland since 2021. Sheena’s […]
March 7th, 2022
Humanists UK has called for the UN Human Rights Council to do what it can to uphold the rights of non-religious Afghans. It has done so by way of an intervention in which it highlighted the deteriorating state of freedom of belief and increasing persecution of minorities since the Taliban takeover last year. The intervention […]
March 5th, 2022
Humanists UK is delighted to announce that acclaimed geneticist, science writer, broadcaster, and humanist Adam Rutherford will be its next President. He will succeed current President Alice Roberts in June 2022 who, like her predecessors as President, will become a Vice President of Humanists UK. Adam has been a high-profile ambassador and patron of Humanists […]
March 4th, 2022
Mike Freer, the Minister for Equalities, has confirmed that the Government’s proposed ban on so-called ‘conversion therapy’ will cover both practices that take place in religious settings and those that are carried out by ministers of religion. LGBT Humanists has previously called on the Government to close loopholes in its proposals on religious conversion therapy. […]
March 1st, 2022
Today the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group (APPHG) met to discuss the pressing need to legally recognise humanist marriages in England and Wales. An expert panel of speakers called on the Government to extend legal recognition now, rather than wait until the outcome of the Law Commission’s review of marriage. Humanists UK, which acts as the […]
March 1st, 2022
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, space scientist, science educator and presenter of the Sky at Night, has been announced as the 2022 Rosalind Franklin Lecturer and medallist. The online event will be held on Thursday 10 March. With her characteristic enthusiasm and talent for simplifying complex ideas, Maggie will take attendees on a journey from 1970s inner […]
March 1st, 2022
The Welsh Goverrnment has announced that it will make at-home abortions a permanent option. The decision follows a consultation on the matter that Wales Humanists responded to. Wales Humanists has welcomed the announcement. The option of having an at-home abortion in the early weeks of pregnancy was first introduced across Britain in 2020, as a […]
February 24th, 2022
Today, the UK Minister for Vaccines and Public Health, Maggie Throup, announced that at-home abortions in England will end on 29 August. Temporary approval was put in place at the beginning of the pandemic to allow women to allow take both pills for early medical abortion up to 10 weeks gestation at home. But this […]
February 23rd, 2022
Earlier this year, Humanists UK relaunched Understanding Humanism, its dedicated website providing resources for teachers and parents. We spoke to Director of Understanding Humanism Luke Donnellan to find out more about the programme. Hi Luke. For anyone who doesn’t know, what would you say are the main aims of Understanding Humanism? We aim to provide […]
February 23rd, 2022
On 3 February, the New York Times (NYT)/Serial Productions published a podcast series called The Trojan Horse Affair, presented by Brian Reed and Hamza Syed. The podcast focuses on events in 2014 that followed the emergence of a letter purporting to be written by a participant in an Islamist plot to take over state schools […]
February 22nd, 2022
It has been reported that two arrests have been made on suspicion of assisting or encouraging suicide, following the death of incurably suffering assisted dying campaigner Sharon Johnston in Switzerland. Ms Johnston was paralysed as a result of falling down the stairs. She spoke publicly about her wish to have an assisted death in a […]
February 15th, 2022
Humanist Climate Action has called for Government action to tackle plastic pollution. Responding to two consultations launched by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Humanist Climate Action supported proposals to bring forward a legislative ban on bio-based, compostable, and biodegradable single-use plastic items. Such plastics are known to have wide and long-lasting degenerative […]
February 13th, 2022
Trends in the Republic of Ireland appear to demonstrate a link between the removal of required religious practice for school admissions, and the number of people engaging in that practice. Ireland removed the so-called ‘baptism barrier’ – whereby unbaptised children were sometimes ineligible for admission to certain Catholic schools – and a reduction in the […]
February 11th, 2022
Tonight Professor Dame Anne Johnson delivered the prestigious Humanists UK Darwin Day Lecture 2022, on ‘People and Pathogens: the evolution of infections’, an exploration of the dynamic interplay between pathogens and human populations, informed by her lifetime of work in the field of infectious disease. As in previous years, the Darwin Day Lecture was chaired […]
February 11th, 2022
The Catholic Church has been allowed to dictate the admissions policies of secondary schools in Leicester, even where these are not faith schools. This is according to a parent who has made a complaint to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator (OSA) – the body that regulates schools admissions. The parent, Dr Sara Thompson, argues […]
February 10th, 2022
UPDATE 16th February: following legal challenge, the Department for Education has reportedly paused the Diocese of Hallam’s bid for 19 schools to become Catholic academies. Nevertheless, the Diocese says it still plans to pursue its plans by Easter. Original article follows. A group of education unions is threatening to take legal action against the UK […]
February 9th, 2022
Suffolk County Council has voted to end religious discrimination for admissions to 35 Church of England schools. Local authorities set the admissions policies for some faith schools, known as voluntary controlled schools, and around a quarter of local authorities allow these schools to religiously select who they admit. At a recent Suffolk Cabinet meeting it […]
February 9th, 2022
The Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill has passed through its final stage in the Northern Ireland Assembly. It now only needs royal assent to become law. The Bill, which will come into effect in 2023 following a year-long public awareness campaign, will introduce a ‘soft opt-out’ system of organ donation. This means that […]
February 7th, 2022
Northern Ireland Humanists has responded to the Independent Review of Education’s ‘initial request for views’ consultation, setting out its vision for the future of education. It told the panel of its vision for a system in which students from different religion and belief backgrounds are educated together in schools that are equally inclusive of all. […]
February 7th, 2022
LGBT Humanists has called for the UK Government to strengthen proposals to ban the abhorrent practice of so-called ‘conversion therapy’ in England and Wales. It has done so in response to a consultation by the Government Equalities Office. This consultation proposes to criminalise these practices, but only for those under 18 years of age or […]
February 4th, 2022
The Government has announced that it will introduce a compulsory register of children not in schools, in a move that will safeguard thousands of children and help to tackle illegal schools. All other pupils are already on the registers of their schools. Humanists UK leads the national campaign against illegal schools and has been calling […]
January 27th, 2022
Today cross-party MPs called on the UK Government to legally recognise humanist marriages in a Westminster Hall debate. The debate was led by Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group (APPHG) Crispin Blunt MP, and saw Conservative, Labour, and Plaid Cymru colleagues speak in favour. Humanists UK welcomed MPs’ efforts in calling for this crucial […]
January 27th, 2022
The history of secular Jewish people in the humanist movement is deeper than many realise, and Jewish humanists in the UK and around the world have played an outsized role in the development of the modern-day humanist movement. In a conversation with Andrew Copson for Humanists UK’s podcast What I Believe, Jewish comedian, writer, and […]
January 27th, 2022
53 MPs and peers have signed a joint letter calling on the UK Government to immediately legally recognise humanist marriages in England and Wales ahead of a parliamentary debate on the matter. The letter has been signed by parliamentarians from all major parties and across the religion or belief spectrum. The letter was organised by […]
January 20th, 2022
A Bill that would end teacher discrimination in Northern Ireland has passed its first stage in the Assembly, bringing welcome progress to Northern Ireland Humanists’ campaign for a single education system free of religious bias. If the Fair Employment (Teachers) Bill, introduced to the assembly by Chris Lyttle MLA, becomes law it will mean that […]
January 20th, 2022
The Northern Ireland Assembly has voted to weaken seriously a pioneering Bill designed to improve access to integrated schools. Northern Ireland Humanists fears that a series of amendments to the Integrated Education Bill voted through this week mean that, in the event it becomes law, it will now do less than needed to bring different […]
January 18th, 2022
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has launched a consultation on proposed changes to its ‘Homicide: Murder and Manslaughter’ Guidance. This seeks to make it less likely for those involved with suicide pacts or ‘mercy killings’ to be prosecuted if there are relevant public interest factors such as the person had reached a ‘voluntary, clear, settled […]
January 18th, 2022
Humanists UK has today relaunched its hugely successful Understanding Humanism website for schools. The website features over 100 new resources for teachers and students, including information sheets, presentations, activities, films, assessment ideas, and humanist perspectives on a wide range of questions and topics. Teachers will find content for ages 5-18, with the material at each […]
January 17th, 2022
Humanists UK is saddened to hear of the death of its former Vice President, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group (APPHG), and Labour Party peer, Lord Bob Hughes of Woodside. Born in Pittenweem near Fife in Scotland, the young Bob Hughes came into politics after an early career as an engineer for the […]
January 13th, 2022
About 6% of parents have exaggerated their religious affiliation in order to secure a local school place, according to research from Zoopla, the property website. Given that less than 1.5% of the population attends Church of England services in an average week, and that less than 4% of those of parent age attend any church […]
December 21st, 2021
Yesterday the Government announced proposals to introduce outdoor civil marriages at approved premises on a permanent basis and to also introduce outdoor religious marriages, but failed to make any similar reforms to legally recognise humanist marriages. Humanists UK has urged the Government to act now to legally recognise humanist marriages without delay. Humanists UK Chief […]
December 20th, 2021
For most Britons, including Christians, Christmas is a time of year to everyone, a new YouGov poll has found. When asked to reflect on their view around Christmas, 74% of British adults say they believe it to be ‘a time of year for everyone’, including 78% of the non-religious, 76% of Christians, and 58% of […]
December 17th, 2021
Humanists UK is delighted to announce that in September 2022, it will be co-convening a dedicated academic conference exploring the rich history of 19th century humanism and freethought. Freethought in the Long Nineteenth Century: New Perspectives, a groundbreaking two-day conference, is being led by Dr Clare Stainthorp of Queen Mary, University of London (QMUL), with […]
December 15th, 2021
Humanists UK has called for the introduction of a clear and simple labelling system to identify non-stunned meat products, in response to a consultation by the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs. This measure would ensure that consumers are informed and empowered to make choices about their food in accordance with their beliefs and […]
December 15th, 2021
Yesterday, members of the Northern Ireland Assembly voted in favour of abortion rights for the first time ever. They did so in defeating a Bill designed to restrict access to abortion. The Severe Foetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill, a private members’ bill brought forward by DUP MLA Christopher Stalford, sought to restrict access to abortion […]
December 15th, 2021
A landmark Bill seeking to overhaul the law on school assemblies has been introduced in the House of Commons. The Education (Assemblies) Bill, which recently completed its passage through the House of Lords, was originally tabled by Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group (APPHG) Baroness Burt, a Liberal Democrat. It has now been picked […]
December 15th, 2021
The Senedd yesterday approved the Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) Code as part of the new Curriculum for Wales. The RSE Code, together with associated guidance, sets out the core learning that must be covered in the subject, as well as the principles of delivering quality RSE and the law that underpins it. The RSE […]
December 15th, 2021
Yesterday, the Government published its long-awaited proposals on reforming the Human Rights Act. If passed into law, these reforms will have a devastating impact on the fundamental rights of humanists. The Government has announced it wants to reform section 3 of the Act to severely curtail the ability of public authorities and the courts to […]
December 14th, 2021
The UK Government has today announced, via an article in the Times, proposed changes to the operation of the Human Rights Act (HRA). These proposals will have far reaching consequences for humanists, who depend upon the courts having the power to interpret legislation in line with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to establish […]
December 9th, 2021
Professor Dame Anne Johnson will deliver the Darwin Day Lecture 2022, taking place on 11 February 2022. This Darwin Day Lecture, a highlight of the humanist calendar, and an online-first hybrid event, will be chaired by Humanists UK President Professor Alice Roberts. Dame Anne will speak on ‘People and pathogens: the evolution of infections’. A […]
December 8th, 2021
A Bill aiming to replace compulsory Christian worship with inclusive assemblies in English schools without a religious character has today completed its passage through the House of Lords. Humanists UK has long campaigned for reforms to the law mandating worship in schools. Today it said it was delighted with this progress. The introduction of assemblies […]
December 8th, 2021
Over 300 households tuned in on 30 November to hear Dr Laura Schwartz give Humanists UK’s prestigious annual Holyoake Lecture, on ‘Infidel Feminism: Secularism and Women’s Rights Past and Present’. Laura’s lecture was a deep-dive into the lesser-known history of women’s rights, and highlighted how humanist and secularist convictions shaped the lives and activism of […]
December 8th, 2021
On Monday parliamentarians heard first hand-accounts of abuse from former pupils of illegal schools. At a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group (APPHG), the pupils called for the Government to take action to close the loopholes which enable these unsafe settings to operate. Three former pupils of illegal and unregistered schools in London gave […]
December 3rd, 2021
The Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) has called for a compulsory register of home educated children, as the number of children thought to be educated outside of school settings soars. Humanists UK, which has long campaigned for such a register to help in the crackdown on illegal religious schools, has welcomed the news. […]
November 25th, 2021
Political leaders in Northern Ireland must do more to support integrated education, a new report has argued. Northern Ireland Humanists, which has long-campaigned for a single-system of education that teaches children from different backgrounds together, has welcomed the conclusions. The report was published by the University of Ulster’s UNESCO Centre this week. It says that […]
November 25th, 2021
Jersey’s States Assembly today approved a proposal to change the law on assisted dying for adult islanders with terminal or incurable conditions, who have a clear and settled wish to end their lives. Channel Islands Humanists, part of Humanists UK, which campaigns for a right to die for those with terminal or incurable illnesses, praised […]
November 24th, 2021
Northern Ireland Justice Minister Naomi Long has repeated her call for the blasphemy laws to be repealed stating that they are ‘archaic and that they have no place in modern society.’ She had previously confirmed her support for repeal in March this year, alongside Finance Minister Conor Murphy, following a campaign by Northern Ireland Humanists. […]
November 24th, 2021
Humanists UK is delighted to announce the appointment of its newest patron, Angela Barnes. Angela is an award-winning comedian who joins a stable of over 180 Humanists UK patrons with distinguished careers in arts, literature, science, academia, politics, and community and civic activism. Angela Barnes is a stand-up comedian and comedy show panellist. In 2011 […]
November 23rd, 2021
Humanist Climate Action is a volunteer-led network of Humanists UK members and supporters committed to redefining lifestyles and campaigning for policies that promote low-carbon, ethical, and sustainable living in the light of the degeneration of the Earth’s climate and biodiversity. On 6 November, Humanist Climate Action joined forces with Eco-Humanists, from Humanist Society Scotland, at […]
November 23rd, 2021
Jersey’s States Assembly will meet today to discuss proposals from the Citizens’ Jury to change the law for adult islanders with terminal or incurable conditions who have a clear and settled wish to end their lives. Channel Islands Humanists, part of Humanists UK, campaigns to legalise assisted dying for both the terminally ill and incurably […]
November 22nd, 2021
Northern Ireland Humanists has called on the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to prioritise integrated education in its strategic plan for the next three years. At present, most children from Catholic and Protestant backgrounds are educated apart from one another. Northern Ireland Humanists advocates for schools to educate children from different religious and belief backgrounds […]
November 22nd, 2021
The High Court will consider a challenge to the laws requiring faith-based Christian religious education (RE) and collective worship in schools in Northern Ireland today. A non-religious family is mounting the legal challenge arguing the exclusively Christian nature of RE and worship violates their human rights. The case is being supported by Northern Ireland Humanists. […]
November 18th, 2021
The Northern Ireland Education Committee yesterday discussed significantly watering down the Integrated Education Bill. In its current form, the Bill requires the promotion of integrated education, but this may be removed following a meeting in Stormont. A number of amendments to the Bill were proposed, including changing the promoting requirement to merely supporting integrated education. […]
November 18th, 2021
Humanists UK is launching season four of its hit podcast, What I Believe, with the help of some well-known humanists including Shaparak Khorsandi, John Amaechi, and Steven Pinker. Each week, host Andrew Copson speaks to a humanist in the public eye about what they believe, to understand more about the values, convictions, and opinions they […]
November 16th, 2021
Humanists are discriminated against in 144 countries across the globe. 83 countries have criminal punishments for blasphemy or apostasy, including 13 where it remains a capital offence. In 12 countries, government figures or state agencies openly marginalise, harass, or incite hatred or violence against the non-religious. These are the top-line findings of the tenth annual […]
November 11th, 2021
Humanists UK and Defence Humanists have marked Remembrance Day 2021 by holding their annual Service sponsored by the Ministry of Defence, and by taking part in national and local Remembrance Day ceremonies across the UK. The annual Humanist Remembrance Day ceremony was broadcast at 10:00 on Remembrance Day on the subject of ‘human values’. The […]
November 10th, 2021
Parliament has heard how an Egyptian humanist would have been wrongly deported if proposed reforms to judicial review were already in place. Shadow Justice Minister Andy Slaughter MP raised the case of the asylum seeker, who was supported by Humanists UK, during debate on the Judicial Review and Courts Bill. He did so to challenge […]
November 10th, 2021
A Bill seeking to replace Christian worship in schools without a religious character with inclusive assemblies moved one step closer to becoming law today. It passed the committee stage in the House of Lords, the second major stage. Humanists UK has long called for changes to the law on compulsory school worship. Today it said […]
November 9th, 2021
Humanist Climate Action joined forces with Eco-Humanists, from Humanist Society Scotland, at demonstrations as part of the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice around the COP26 summit. Humanists marched alongside representatives from other religion or belief groups in Glasgow and London. Humanist Climate Action called on delegates to COP26 to make a firm and meaningful commitment […]
November 8th, 2021
Humanists UK has launched a fresh appeal to fund its dedicated campaign against state-funded religious schools through 2022. DONATE TODAY In an email sent to members and supporters over the weekend, Humanists UK President Professor Alice Roberts outlined some of the enormous achievements of the charity’s dedicated Faith Schools Campaigner, Dr Ruth Wareham. These […]
November 8th, 2021
The High Court has rejected a challenge to the proposed merger of a Church of England school and a school without a religious character into a single Church of England primary. A non-religious family challenged Somerset County Council’s decision to merge the schools, arguing that the complete removal of all school places outside of Christian […]
November 5th, 2021
Humanists UK is urging schools to check who is behind Christmas shoebox appeals, after receiving numerous queries from worried parents. There are many reputable charities now running such appeals. But Humanists UK has identified two in particular that use the generosity of donors to evangelise to vulnerable children. Samaritan’s Purse is the organisation behind Operation […]
November 5th, 2021
Humanists UK has asked for equal treatment for non-religious asylum seekers in response to a consultation by the Women and Equalities Select Committee. In 13 countries being non-religious is punishable by death under blasphemy and apostasy laws. In over 40 more non-religious people are sent to prison. These laws make equal treatment in the UK […]
November 4th, 2021
The States of Guernsey has rejected a proposal to remove a law that allows state-funded religious schools to discriminate against teachers who don’t share their faith. The decision comes after the Catholic Church threatened to close the three schools it runs on the Bailiwick rather than appoint non-Catholics to senior teaching positions. Humanists UK and […]
November 4th, 2021
Humanist Climate Action is a volunteer-led network of Humanists UK members and supporters committed to redefining lifestyles and campaigning for policies that promote low-carbon, ethical, and sustainable living in the light of the degeneration of the Earth’s climate and biodiversity. It has made the following statement, targeted at COP26 delegates: Humanist Climate Action is a […]