Equality- the non-religious perspective British Humanist Association 1 Gower Street, London. WC1E 6HD Registered Charity No. 285987 Equality- the non-religious perspective The British Humanist Association What is Humanism? What is the British Humanist Association? Legislation Equalities Employment Social Cohesion and Interfaith Diversity Monitoring

Equality- the non-religious perspective British Humanist Association 1 Gower Street, London. WC1E 6HD Registered Charity No. 285987 The British Humanist Association Equality- the non-religious perspective What is Humanism? Non religious ethical philosophy (not a faith) The belief that we can live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs Believe in individual rights and freedoms ‑ but believe that individual responsibility, social cooperation and mutual respect are just as important Make sense of the world using reason, experience and shared human values Encompasses atheism and agnosticism Not anti religious The ‘Golden Rule’ Moral values are properly founded on human nature and experience alone

Equality- the non-religious perspective British Humanist Association 1 Gower Street, London. WC1E 6HD Registered Charity No. 285987 Equality- the non-religious perspective The British Humanist Association What is the British Humanist Association? Largest national charity representing non-religious Over 7500 members Over 200 Celebrants Campaigns at government and local level Over 80 local groups Specialists in Religion and Belief field "I was a humanist without knowing it for many years before I found the Association - when I did, it was like finding a sort of home.” Claire Rayner BHA Vice President

Equality- the non-religious perspective British Humanist Association 1 Gower Street, London. WC1E 6HD Registered Charity No. 285987 Equality- the non-religious perspective The British Humanist Association Legislation Human Rights Act 1998 The Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 Equality Act Part 2 – Religion or Belief 2006 Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 Case law on religion or belief The Single Equality Bill? “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance. ” Human Rights Act

Equality- the non-religious perspective British Humanist Association 1 Gower Street, London. WC1E 6HD Registered Charity No. 285987 The British Humanist Association Equality- the non-religious perspective Equality Equality policies Government equality work Single Equality Bill EHRC Race, Cohesion and Faith Directorate “We're making it harder for anyone to discriminate against you because of your religion or beliefs (or lack of religion or belief).” Race Cohesion and Faith Directorate Communities and Local Government

Equality- the non-religious perspective British Humanist Association 1 Gower Street, London. WC1E 6HD Registered Charity No. 285987 The British Humanist Association Equality- the non-religious perspective Employment What’s the situation? Exemptions from law ‘Faith schools’ Public services QUALITY AND EQUALITY: HUMAN RIGHTS, PUBLIC SERVICES AND RELIGIOUS ORGANISATIO NS “Any organisation providing public services must be prohibited from discriminating against current and potential employees.” BHA report ‘Quality and Equality’ November 2007 6

Equality- the non-religious perspective British Humanist Association 1 Gower Street, London. WC1E 6HD Registered Charity No. 285987 Equality- the non-religious perspective The British Humanist Association Social Cohesion and Interfaith Commission on Integration and Cohesion Face to Face and Side by Side consultation Guidance documents Face to Face and Side by Side Government paper Local Government inclusion Communities in Control Funding “ For many, faith is not passive, but active. The values of care for the vulnerable, and responsibility towards others, are lived out through practical acts of social concern. When there are problems in a neighbourhood ...faith communities are often the first on the scene, making a difference and remaining steadfast and committed where others might despair." Rt. Hon Hazel Blears MP Forward to ‘Face to Face’

Equality- the non-religious perspective British Humanist Association 1 Gower Street, London. WC1E 6HD Registered Charity No. 285987 The British Humanist Association Equality- the non-religious perspective Diversity Monitoring Monitoring religion and beliefs of staff What are the aims and what will data be used for? Inaccurate data from Census Inequality in service provision and in workplace “For strands such as sexual orientation and religion or belief…reliable statistics are not available, and…there are issues of privacy involved in gathering data which might provide statistics.” Government response to Equality Bill White Paper, 2008