Protect children’s rights from religious imposition, NSS urges UN
Posted: Fri, 2nd Dec 2022
The National Secular Society has called on the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child to address religious threats to children's rights.
The NSS made a submission to the committee in response to a government report on the state of children's rights in the UK.
The committee monitors the progress of member states' implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Collective worship
Collective worship is currently a statutory requirement in all UK state schools. Withdrawal from collective worship requires the consent of the child's parent.
The government said it had "no plans" to review these policies despite the committee's recommendations to the contrary.
The NSS's submission called on the government to repeal collective worship laws and "ensure that children can independently exercise the right to withdraw from religious worship at school."
Religious education
The NSS pointed out that faith schools are "permitted to teach religious education (RE) from their own religious viewpoint" and can omit or discourage "views of those with no religious beliefs or those critical of religion".
The submission highlighted the July 2022 ruling of the High Court in Northern Ireland, which held that the "complete focus on Christianity" of Northern Irish RE violated the European Convention of Human Rights.
The NSS called for RE to be taught in an "objective, critical and pluralistic" manner.
Relationships and sex education
The submission quoted a 2018 NSS report which found 77% of state-funded secondary faith schools in England were teaching relationships and sex education (RSE) in accordance with religious scripture.
It raised concerns that such an approach may shame "those who engage in relationships that do conform to religious teachings".
The NSS also noted a May 2021 Ofsted report which revealed that "every parent had withdrawn their child from sex education classes at an independent faith school in Gateshead".
The NSS called on the government to ensure all schools offer "impartial, inclusive, rights-based and comprehensive relationships and sex education" and to "revoke the parental right of withdrawal from sex education".
Clerical child abuse
The NSS submission welcomed the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse's (IICSA) October 2022 recommendation of mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse which should "not be subject" to religious exceptions.
This included abuse revealed during sacramental confession, despite objections from religious groups.
However, IICSA's proposed law would only require mandated reporters to report direct knowledge of abuse, acquired via a child victim's disclosure or a perpetrator's admission to the reporter.
The NSS called for the government to go further and mandate "reporting of reasonable suspicions of abuse".
Forced genital cutting
The submission noted that three baby boys have bled to death in recent years after being subjected to ritual circumcision. Eleven boys were admitted to just one hospital in a single year with life-threatening haemorrhage or sepsis post-circumcision.
It pointed to a 2015 case in which a UK judge held that some forms of female genital mutilation (FGM), which is outlawed under the FGM Act 2003, are "less invasive" than male circumcision.
The NSS called on the government to "guarantee protections from non-therapeutic genital cutting for all children equally, regardless of sex".
Access to abortion in Northern Ireland
The submission pointed out that recent polling found only 10% of women in NI know how to access abortion services.
As of last month, the Secretary of State in Northern Ireland was still unable to confirm when all women and girls in Northern Ireland can access to "safe, legal and local abortion".
The NSS called on the government to ensure access to abortion in Northern Ireland "is a practical and effective right" rather than "a theoretical or illusory one".
NSS comment: UK government has 'actively ignored' committee recommendations
NSS campaigns officer Alejandro Sanchez said: "The UK government's report leaves gaping holes in how it plans to uphold the rights of children in our country.
"In some cases, such as collective worship, it has actively ignored the recommendations of the committee.
"The government must now set aside fears of offending religious groups and take all necessary steps to protect the rights enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child."
What the NSS stands for
The Secular Charter outlines 10 principles that guide us as we campaign for a secular democracy which safeguards all citizens' rights to freedom of and from religion.
