Northern Ireland Humanists

15/06/2026

10/06/2026

Last night’s violence and intimidation was unacceptable.

A serious crime must be dealt with through due process, not mobs, arson, threats, or attacks on people’s homes.

Every person in Northern Ireland deserves to live without fear.

Racism has no place here.

09/06/2026

Breaking news: Northern Ireland is one step closer to repealing its blasphemy laws.

Today, MLAs voted 57 to 24 in favour of an amendment to the Justice Bill, tabled by Alliance MLA Connie Egan, to repeal the common law offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel.

Northern Ireland Humanists has campaigned for this for years.

Blasphemy laws are archaic, unjust, and a threat to freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief. No one should face criminal sanction for saying what they believe, leaving a religion, challenging religious ideas, or expressing non-religious beliefs.

Northern Ireland is now on course to join the rest of the UK and Ireland in removing these outdated laws.

The repeal is not law yet. The Justice Bill still has further stages to pass. But today’s vote is a huge moment for free expression, equality, and the rights of religious minorities and non-religious people.

09/06/2026

Northern Ireland is changing.

At least one in three young adults here has no religion.

New Life and Times Survey data shows:
33% of 18–24s have no religion
40% of 25–34s have no religion

But too many institutions still act as though everyone belongs to one of two Christian traditions.

It is time for schools, public services, and civic life to reflect the real diversity of belief in Northern Ireland today.

04/06/2026

We are deeply disappointed after an amendment to remove the legal defence of ‘reasonable punishment’ of children was excluded from the Consideration Stage of Northern Ireland’s Justice Bill.

The amendment, tabled by Alliance MLA Michelle Guy, would have given children the same legal protection from physical assault as adults by removing the criminal defence of ‘reasonable punishment’ from Northern Ireland law.

Northern Ireland Humanists had joined over 250 organisations and professionals calling on Stormont to support the amendment. They said reform would bring Northern Ireland into line with Scotland, Wales, Jersey, the Republic of Ireland, and around 70 countries worldwide, where children already have equal protection under assault laws.

Northern Ireland Humanists has expressed deep disappointment after an amendment to remove the legal defence of ‘reasonable punishment’ of children was excluded from the Consideration Stage of Northern Ireland’s Justice Bill. The amendment, tabled by Alliance MLA Michelle Guy, would have given ...

03/06/2026

There’s a long history of secularism and freethought on the island of Ireland, and some of its advocates were more colourful than others.

On World Bicycle Day, we’re celebrating one of the quirkiest humanists you’ve probably never heard of: Greevz Fysher.

Born in Youghal, Co. Cork, in 1845, Fysher was an atheist, inventor, spelling reformer, cycling enthusiast, naturalist, and social campaigner. Never one to do things by half measures, he even changed the spelling of his own name to fit his phonetic spelling system.

Alongside his wife Marie, he campaigned for women’s equality, access to birth control, and the rights of children born outside marriage at a time when such views were deeply unpopular. He believed in reason, compassion, liberty, and challenging unfairness wherever he found it.

He was also an early cycling pioneer. According to one obituary, his tricycle could often be seen at a time when such machines were considered a complete oddity. Later, he took up the bicycle and remained an enthusiastic rider well into old age.

A freethinker, campaigner, inventor, cyclist, and all-round original. Greevz Fysher reminds us that humanist history is full of people who weren’t afraid to think differently.

Read more about his remarkable life below.

Mr. Fysher was in many respects a remarkable man. His interests were wide, and whatever he took up he carried […]

27/05/2026

It’s great to see this hunting ban pass its second stage.

As humanists, we recognise that other sentient animals are not mere objects or resources for our use, but rather conscious beings with their own interests and needs, who have the capacity to experience pain, pleasure, and a range of emotions.

We support efforts to promote animal welfare and prevent needless cruelty, as well as initiatives to protect endangered species and preserve biodiversity.

It is our moral duty to extend compassion and respect to all sentient beings, not just humans. Whether it's in the food we eat, the products we use, or the entertainment we consume, we should strive to minimise harm and prioritise the well-being of other animals.

Previous bid to outlaw hunting wild mammals with dogs in the region was voted down

24/05/2026

Why doesn’t Northern Ireland have a school system that is actually for everyone?”

36% of 16-year-olds in Northern Ireland now say they belong to no religion.

We should not be organising education around religious division.

If education is funded by the state, it should be for everyone.

Join us today if you agree Northern Ireland needs a single inclusive education system for all.

21/05/2026

A new Department of Education report on integrated education risks understating the need for reform by placing too much weight on a narrow measure of parental demand

'Divided schools mean a divided society. The only solution is a single, inclusive and secular education system and this is what our politicians should be working towards.

'This report presents demand for integrated education as patchy and localised, but that tells only part of the story. Parents are making choices within a school system that is already divided, where inclusive provision is limited, unevenly distributed, and often difficult to access. It is no surprise that admissions data alone does not capture the scale of support for educating children together.

‘The fact that schools can win overwhelming support from parents to become integrated and still be blocked shows how badly reform is needed. The real question is not whether enough parents can prove demand, school by school and postcode by postcode. The question is why Northern Ireland continues to organise education around religious division at all

A new Department of Education report on integrated education risks understating the need for reform by placing too much weight on a narrow measure of parental demand, says Northern Ireland Humanists. The Department’s Integrated Education Demand report brings together admissions data, parental surv...

19/05/2026

Conversion therapy causes real harm.

Practices that attempt to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity have been condemned by major medical and mental health organisations for years.

Nobody should ever be made to feel broken because of who they are.

Northern Ireland Humanists and Humanists UK will continue to support a clear and comprehensive ban on conversion therapy in Northern Ireland and across the UK, because everyone deserves dignity, safety, and the freedom to live openly and honestly.