As part of Humanists UK, Northern Ireland Humanists has a number of policies and campaigns on human rights and equality, public ethical issues, and achieving a secular state. Some examples include:
Free, safe, and legal abortions in Northern Ireland
We have campaigned for many years support of legal abortion in Northern Ireland, and have briefed MPs and peers ahead of the debates in the UK Parliament. We also intervened in numerous legal cases about abortion in Northern Ireland, which laid the groundwork for eventual legislation. We now look to ensure abortions are safe, free, and available to all in practice.
Equal access and funding for non-religious pastoral carers
Northern Ireland Humanists has trained a number of non-religious pastoral carers who are ready and willing to volunteer in hospitals and prisons. However, their inclusion in local ‘chaplaincy’ teams is at the discretion of the resident hospital chaplain. We train and accredit humanist pastoral support volunteers to work in hospitals, prisons, and the armed forces. To find out more about this work, visit the Non-Religious Pastoral Care Network.
Marriage equality and legal humanist ceremonies
We campaigned for many years in support of same-sex marriages in Northern Ireland, and to ensure humanist marriages are legally recognised. As a result, both humanist and same-sex marriages are now legally recognised in Northern Ireland, representing huge progressive reform, which we hope helps pave the way for further changes in Northern Ireland. We are now determined to spread the word about our fantastic ceremonies! If you would like to consider training as an accredited celebrant, details can be found on the Humanist Ceremonies website.
Assisted dying
Humanists have long spearheaded efforts to legalise the right to die across the UK for those who have made a clear decision, free from coercion, to end their lives and who are physically unable to do so themselves. In many cases, the person in question will be terminally ill. However, we do not think that there is a strong moral case to limit assistance to terminally ill people alone and we wish to see reform of the law that would be responsive to the needs of other people who are permanently and incurably suffering. Our Take Action Toolkit has advice on how to go about this.