Page 3 - Boyd Sleator News Today

July 23rd, 2021 The UK Government has used its powers to order the Northern Ireland Executive to commission abortion services. It made the move after some parties’ opposition in Stormont led to continued delay to the rollout of abortion services in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Humanists welcomed the decision as vital progress for women’s rights. Abortion was decriminalised in Northern Ireland last year. The new legislation should have also led to the rollout of services. But disagreem...

The High Court in Northern Ireland has granted a non-religious parent and child permission to challenge laws requiring faith-based Christian religious education (RE) and collective worship in all schools. Instead they want the curriculum and school assemblies to be taught in a way inclusive of those of other religions and beliefs. Northern Ireland Humanists campaigns […]

June 3rd, 2021 The Christian Institute has threatened legal action against the Northern Ireland Executive if a ban on so-called ‘conversion therapy’ is introduced that includes what it terms ‘prayer’. The Institute says such a ban would breach the rights of Christians. But Northern Ireland Humanists believes such a case may be ‘fundamentally flawed’. This is because manifestations of religious beliefs can be restricted if they harm others. Jason Coppel QC, acting for the Institute, ...

Humanist and Christian leaders have come together to urge as many people as possible to get vaccinated against Covid-19. The move, by the UK’s humanist movement and by Churches Together in England the Scottish Church Leaders Forum on behalf of their around 60 member churches, is being made now that everyone over 40 has been […]

April 19th, 2021 An exemption to equality law allowing schools in Northern Ireland to employ teachers on religious grounds may be challenged in Stormont, after the Chair of Stormont’s Education Committee launched a consultation into a proposed private members’ bill to ‘tackle’ the issue. The bill is being proposed by Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle. Northern Ireland Humanists – which campaigns for equal treatment of teachers regardless of religious background – welcomed the move and said ...

March 4th, 2021 An exemption to equality law allowing schools in Northern Ireland to employ teachers on religious grounds is ‘perverse’, ‘archaic’, and unfair, members of the Stormont’s Education Committee said yesterday. Northern Ireland Humanists – which campaigns for equal treatment of teachers regardless of religious background – welcomed the comments and said they show it is high time for the exemption to be scrapped. The MLAs’ remarks were made during a presentation of evi...

Growing community urging those who are not religious to say so on the next census

February 1st, 2021 A new report shows that many, perhaps most, parents who wish to send their children to an integrated school in Northern Ireland are currently unable to do so. Northern Ireland Humanists has said this urgently demonstrates the need to desegregate the outdated school system. Research from Ulster University’s Transforming Education project says that 28% of households ‘are located in areas of Northern Ireland where access to integrated primary schools is limited and a similar...

December 18th, 2020 Governments across the UK should repeal compulsory collective worship, children’s rights bodies from all four nations have told the United Nations. Humanists UK, Wales Humanists, and Northern Ireland Humanists all contributed evidence to national reports compiled by key children’s rights bodies in each country, with partner organisation Humanist Society Scotland contributing to a similar report in Scotland. The reports will now be used to shape the UN Committee on the Ri...

December 11th, 2020 The Northern Ireland Department of Health has proposed introducing an opt-out system for organ donation, where a person is presumed to have consented to donate their organs after death unless they have specifically opted out. Northern Ireland Humanists has welcomed the move, and has called on the public to support the plans. Moving to an opt-out, rather than opt-in, system of organ donation has been shown to increase the number of organs available for transplant and willingn...