Campaigns
The BHA devotes much of its time to campaigning and lobbying on behalf of everyone who considers themselves to be a humanist or holds humanist views. We work for an open society and a secular state with no religious privilege or discrimination based on religion or belief. We also campaign for a rational approach to public ethical issues in order to contribute to a public life where decisions are made on evidence rather than on the basis of irrational beliefs or religious doctrines. You can help!
Across the country
As a national organisation, the BHA presents expertly argued views to Parliament and the Government: lobbying Parliament, submitting evidence to enquiries, making submissions to Government, responding to consultations, and conducting media campaigns. We have a close working relationship with the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group.
Across Europe
The BHA also works with NGOs from across the European Union and attends The European Parliament Platform for Secularism in Europe (EPPSP). The EPPSP is a forum which defends and promotes Fundamental Rights, with special focus on freedom of religion (including freedom from religion), freedom of conscience and freedom of speech. The BHA was also involved in, and is an administrator for, the Alliance for a Secular Europe. The Alliance is a grouping of organisations seeking to defend progressive laws and causes against reactionary religious influence on political decision-making in Europe and, more generally, to promote secularism in European politics.
The basis of action
We campaign on the basis of human rights, including the rights of people with religious beliefs, and a humanist view of society. The law upholds freedom of ‘religion or belief’ and the word ‘belief’ in this legal sense includes non-religious worldviews or lifestances such as Humanism. We stand up for the rights of humanists and everyone who lives their life without religion – and because our campaigns are based on the principles of the ‘open society’ and the secular state, they also serve the interests of others whose rights may be being infringed.
Many of our campaigns are based on Government consultations or Parliamentary initiatives, although in some areas, especially religion in schools, we also initiate effective campaigns ourselves. Because our campaigns are – in some ways – in tune with the Government’s own agenda of inclusion and non-discrimination, we can often have a real impact.
Involvement
These Campaigns pages have all the news about our current and recent campaigns. They are updated frequently, so bookmark them and keep returning. Also make sure to read What You Can Do To Help.
Of course, the most effective campaigns combine local action with work at national level. For example, we can produce the arguments against ‘faith’ and sectarian schools and in favour of inclusive schools where children from families of all religions and none are educated together and learn about each other’s beliefs, but Local Authorities only consult and listen to the views of local people when making decisions about a new school in their area.
So if you share our views, we hope you will get involved – our success depends on you!
Humanism in Society
Surveys and polling data indicate that the population of the United Kingdom is increasingly secular, and essentially humanist in its outlook. The remaining privileges and legal exemptions for religion appear ever more anachronistic and unjustifiable. Read our selection of Surveys and Statistics for more information.
