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 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 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 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 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 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 […]
