BHA: Collective worship opt-out upholds young people’s rights

The British Humanist Association (BHA) has responded to an article today by the Archbishop of Wales on over-16s being permitted to opt themselves out of compulsory worship in schools in Wales, describing his comments as failing to respect young people’s human rights.

Naomi Phillips, BHA Public Affairs Officer, said, ‘It is hardly a surprise that an archbishop believes that all young people should have ‘faith’ forced on them from an early age in schools. With so few people ever attending a religious service, schools are seen by the churches and other religious groups as ideal settings in which to inculcate young people in religion.’

‘That position, however, fails to respect the human rights of children and young people to freedom of belief and conscience. Just last year, Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights called for any child of ‘sufficient maturity, intelligence and understanding’ to be given the right to withdraw from compulsory religious worship in schools, not only those over 16, given the clear violation of young people’s rights by having compulsory worship in all schools.’

Ms Phillips continued, ‘A large majority of young people are non-religious. Far better to replace the law requiring religious worship with a law requiring inclusive assemblies that would be suitable for all children. For as long as the current law remains, however, children must be allowed to decide for themselves whether they wish to participate. To compel them to pray, or worship in other ways, is a clear interference with their right to freedom of belief – one of the most important rights that we enjoy.’

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For further comment or information, contact Naomi Phillips, BHA Public Affairs Officer, at naomi@humanism.org.uk or on 020 7079 3585 or 07779 703 242.

The British Humanist Association (BHA) is the national charity representing and supporting the non-religious and campaigning for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief. It is the largest organisation in the UK working for a secular state.