Northern Irish election: where do the parties stand on humanist issues?

27 February, 2017

Click on the image to see a full-size version. You can also read the underlying table.

With a snap election in Northern Ireland scheduled for 2 March, following a breakdown in the power-sharing agreement, Northern Ireland Humanists is today publishing a table setting out the various political parties’ most recent positions on issues of concern to humanists.

In recent weeks, Northern Ireland Humanists put eight questions to the eight most prominent parties and has produced table of comparison by drawing together  these responses, the parties’ manifestos, and other sources.

The questions asked were:

  1. Would you support an end to religious discrimination in the employment of staff in all state-funded schools?
  2. Do you think we should get rid of faith-based religious education in state schools, and instead treat all major religious and non-religious worldviews equally?
  3. Would you support making high-quality, comprehensive relationships and sexuality education part of the statutory curriculum in Northern Irish schools?
  4. Would you support legalising abortion, at a minimum in a similar way to how it is legal in Britain?
  5. Would you support the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland?
  6. Would you support the legalisation of humanist marriage in Northern Ireland, which has been hugely popular in Scotland since its legalisation there?
  7. Would you oppose any moves in Westminster to weaken our human rights settlement, including pulling out of the European Convention on Human Rights – which is essential in protecting fundamental human rights and freedoms?
  8. Would you support the legalisation of assisted dying for people who are terminally ill or are permanently and incurably suffering, in order to protect their right to autonomy and self-determination?

The detailed information in the table has also been reproduced as a shareable infographic for social media.

Boyd Sleator, Northern Ireland Humanists Coordinator, commented: ‘Democratic participation is a vital part of ensuring we are a compassionate, ethical, and evidence-based society. We hope that humanists across the UK will take up matters of shared concern with their candidates, and that our research will equip voters with the knowledge they need to make a fully informed decision.’

Notes

For further information, please contact Boyd Sleator, Northern Ireland Humanists Coordinator on 07470 395090 or at boyd.sleator@nihumanists.org, or Campaigns Manager Richy Thompson on 020 7324 3072 or at richy@humanists.uk.

View the table of parties’ policies: https://humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017-02-20-NI-policy-table.pdf

Northern Ireland Humanists is part of the British Humanist Association, working with the Humanist Association of Ireland. The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.