Tags: Northern Ireland
NSS welcomes equality protections for NI teachers
Posted: Fri, 25 Mar 2022
Legislation banning religious discrimination against teachers in schools has unanimously passed the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly, and is expected to come into force in the next two years. Read More »
NSS calls for better free speech protection in NI hate crime reform
Posted: Tue, 22 Mar 2022
The National Secular Society has warned proposed reforms to Northern Ireland's hate crime laws could undermine free speech. Read More »
NSS event to explore future of inclusive education in N Ireland
Posted: Thu, 10 Mar 2022
An NSS online conference will bring together reformers, politicians and academics to set out a secularist vision for education in NI. Read More »
Don’t let religion enable violence against women in NI, NSS says
Posted: Tue, 01 Mar 2022
The NSS has warned the NI Executive that conservative religious teachings may play a role in abuse and violence against women and girls. Read More »
Roll back religious privilege in NI education, says NSS
Posted: Wed, 09 Feb 2022
The NSS has told an education panel in NI that removing religious privilege is necessary to ensure inclusivity in schools. Read More »
NSS backs proposals to modernise NI marriage laws
Posted: Thu, 03 Feb 2022
The NSS has backed plans to enable non-religious 'belief marriages' and crack down on forced marriage in Northern Ireland. Read More »
Two inclusive education bills progress in NI Assembly
Posted: Thu, 20 Jan 2022
Two bills supported by the NSS that would make education in Northern Ireland more inclusive have progressed in the assembly. Read More »
NSS backs moves to promote integrated education in NI
Posted: Wed, 13 Oct 2021
The NSS has backed legislation in the Northern Ireland Assembly calling on the government to actively promote integrated education. Read More »
Bill to speed up integration of education in NI progresses
Posted: Thu, 08 Jul 2021
A bill which would ensure almost all new schools in Northern Ireland were integrated has passed its second reading at Stormont. Read More »
Laws requiring exclusively Christian RE to face court challenge in NI
Posted: Thu, 24 Jun 2021
Northern Ireland's High Court has allowed a challenge to laws requiring confessional RE and collective worship in all schools. Read More »
‘Conversion therapy’ charity shows need for reform in NI, says NSS
Posted: Fri, 23 Apr 2021
The NSS has called for the removal of 'the advancement of religion' as a charitable purpose in Northern Ireland in response to a review. Read More »
Bill seeks to end religious discrimination against teachers in NI
Posted: Wed, 21 Apr 2021
The NSS will support a bill to end a legal exemption allowing religious discrimination against teachers in Northern Ireland. Read More »
NSS urges repeal of Northern Ireland blasphemy laws
Posted: Wed, 17 Mar 2021
The NSS has called on the Northern Ireland executive to repeal its "archaic" blasphemy laws. Read More »
Success: government won’t extend same-sex marriage exemptions in NI
Posted: Fri, 17 Jul 2020
The government has confirmed businesses won't be able to refuse services for same-sex marriages in Northern Ireland after NSS lobbying. Read More »
Review status of charity promoting ‘conversion therapy’, NSS says
Posted: Wed, 13 May 2020
The NSS has urged NI's charity regulator to review the status of an organisation which promotes "change oriented therapy" for gay people. Read More »
Don’t extend exemptions on same-sex marriage in NI, NSS warns
Posted: Thu, 05 Mar 2020
The NSS has warned that allowing providers of wedding services to opt out of serving same-sex couples would undermine equality law. Read More »
NSS: religion shouldn’t restrict access to abortion in NI
Posted: Thu, 12 Dec 2019
The NSS has urged the UK government not to allow religion to limit women's access to abortions in Northern Ireland. Read More »
NSS welcomes legalisation of abortion & marriage equality in NI
Posted: Tue, 22 Oct 2019
The NSS has welcomed the legalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland and the extension of same-sex marriage rights to the province. Read More »
Research reveals impact of religious discrimination on NI teachers
Posted: Thu, 30 May 2019
Segregated education and legal discrimination are causing the "cultural encapsulation" of Northern Ireland's teachers, a report has said. Read More »
Commons passes bill and amendment on abortion in NI
Posted: Thu, 25 Oct 2018
The NSS has called for reform of Northern Ireland's abortion laws after MPs passed a bill and an amendment on the subject this week. Read More »