Religious observance should be a choice
Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman has welcomed the Scottish Government’s backing for her amendment to take steps to introduce an independent right for children to withdraw from religious observance in schools.
The amendment, which was agreed as part of the Scottish Government’s Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and UNCRC Compatibility Duty) Bill, is supported by the Scottish Human Rights Commission and Together, the Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights.
Professor Angela O’Hagan, of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, told the committee that, without such a right, the government’s bill would fail to meet its basic aim.
Welcoming the news, Maggie said:
“This is an important step and I welcome the government’s support for my amendment. But it is only the first step in securing equitable rights for all children in Scotland to choose what religious activities they participated in.
“If we are a society that respects the rights of children and young people then we must listen to them and empower them to make their own choices and exercise their own rights independently of any adult.
“The rights we create in law must be respected in practice. That is why I believe so firmly that children and young people must have the right to withdraw from religious observance in schools.
“Nobody should be forced to take part in religious activities - praying, singing hymns, affirming a belief in a god - if they do not wish to. My amendments to this bill sought to ensure just that.
“We still have work to do to ensure that religious observance in our schools is delivered in a way that is appropriate for our multi-faith society.
“I look forward to continuing to press the Scottish Government to do that work.”