The British Humanist Association’s (BHA) Andrew Copson and Naomi Phillips welcomed delegates from the State Nationalities Affairs Commission, People’s Republic of China, to Conway Hall, London, yesterday, as part of the delegation’s training on UK religious, non-religious and ethnic group affairs. The delegation was particularly keen to meet with the BHA, to learn about the BHA’s role in promoting freedom and fairness in terms of religion and belief.

Delegates were particularly interested in the diversity of British society, and how a culture of respect for - and celebration of - that diversity has developed.

Andrew Copson, BHA Director of Education and Public Affairs, said, ‘We were pleased to meet with Chinese state delegates to the UK and to give a presentation covering the BHA’s work in promoting equality, freedom of belief and fairness in the context of British society more generally. We were keen to emphasise the importance of the human rights legal framework in the UK which underpins our equality laws, while at the same time drawing attention to the continuing, anomalous and unjust privileges in law for religion.’

Notes

The British Humanist Association is the national charity representing and supporting the interests of ethically concerned, non-religious people in the UK. It is the largest organisation in the UK campaigning for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief, and for a secular state.