A Christian Public Affairs charity has called for greater recognition of the right to freedom of religion and belief in evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities and Human Rights Committee. Giving oral evidence to the Committee today, CARE for Scotland’s Policy Officer, Dr Gordon Macdonald, drew attention for the need to promote reasonable accommodation in the workplace across both private and public sectors. A duty of reasonable adjustment already exists in relation to disability and a similar duty should apply in relation to religion and belief in order to protect religious liberties.

Commenting on the Committee’s Inquiry, Dr Macdonald said:

“The next year of negotiations surrounding leaving the EU and the years following Brexit should be used to ensure that human rights that were protected under the EU law are adequately protected within UK domestic law and Brexit does not become the highway to restriction of human rights.”

“The debates on human rights surrounding Brexit should be used to revisit the question of the protection of certain neglected human rights, for example, the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief and what else can be done to strengthen that protection.”

“Religious liberty is beneficial for all communities. The public service and contribution of religious groups to their communities has been remarkable for many years, from running food banks and debt management courses to hustings during elections.”

“However, the right to Freedom of Religion and Belief is not adequately protected when it clashes with other protected characteristics. People find that the manifestation of faith in public is being increasingly restricted in a way that is a significant concern.”

“Religion or belief cannot be treated as a hobby, which can be picked up or put down. It is constitutive of identity and requires full and adequate recognition in and protection by law, equal to other protected characteristics. No one should have to choose between their job and their faith, therefore it is imperative that the Scottish Parliament consider promoting reasonable accommodation of religious belief within the public and private sectors.”

Dr Macdonald also raised concerns that parental rights are often neglected by public bodies:

“Parental rights are routinely overlooked by politicians and decision makers. You only have to look at the problems regarding the Named Person Scheme and the subsequent court case to see evidence of this.”

“The rights of parents to choose the type of education their children receive and to have them educated in accordance with their religious and philosophical beliefs are enshrined in human rights treaties but are often neglected by public bodies.”

“Parents should not have to compromise their beliefs when choosing the type of education their child receives.”

Ends

You can read the full agenda here. CARE’s submission can be found on pages 5-13