Category: Reproductive Rights
Humanist Society interview series: Gemma Clark, abortion rights campaigner
May 22, 2023
At Humanist Society Scotland, we love talking to inspiring campaigners. We got to know abortion-rights activist and primary schoolteacher Gemma Clark through her awareness-raising work on the need for buffer zones around abortion services. Scotland is the last part of…
Schools did not provide balance to anti-abortion visits: Humanist Society comments in The Herald
May 2, 2023
We were pleased to have our say in a new article in The Herald revealing that eight Scottish local authorities which allowed an anti-abortion group to speak to pupils about reproductive health failed to provide alternative, pro-choice visits. The Society…
Our priorities for Humza Yousaf
April 25, 2023
The current parliamentary term could be a pivotal time for humanism in Scotland. We look forward to the passing of a law to protect women from harassment outside abortion clinics, and we hope that new rules will follow to ensure…
Humanist Society responds to election of Humza Yousaf
March 27, 2023
Humanist Society Scotland notes the election of Humza Yousaf as new leader of the Scottish National Party and candidate for first minister of Scotland. We wish Mr Yousaf all the best in his new role and look forward to working…
Humza Yousaf responds to our open letter to SNP leadership candidates
March 8, 2023
Ten days ago, on 27 February 2023, we wrote an open letter to the three candidates for leadership of the SNP, Kate Forbes, Ash Regan, and Humza Yousaf, asking for assurances on some our key commitments this year. Humza Yousaf…
Humanist Society Scotland interview series: Lucy Grieve, co-founder of Back Off Scotland, on fighting for safe access to abortion services
March 2, 2023
We spoke to Lucy Grieve, co-founder of women’s health rights movement Back Off Scotland, about campaigning for safe access to abortion services across Scotland. Health facilities offering abortion healthcare are routinely picketed by religious protestors who harass women on their…
We write to SNP leadership candidates to gauge support on key humanist causes
February 27, 2023
The following open letter was sent to all candidates for leadership of the Scottish National Party on 27 February 2023. We asked for assurances related to some of our key commitments this year: smooth implementation of assisted dying legislation; bringing…
Humanist Society comments on Kate Forbes’s links to evangelical charities in Third Force News
February 22, 2023
We offered our thoughts on Kate Forbes’s connections to a number of evangelical Christian organisations for an article by Niall Christie in Third Force News. Here’s our statement for Third Force News in full: “Humanist Society Scotland is aware of…
Our CEO talks Kate Forbes, faith, and policy-making on BBC Radio Scotland
Humanist Society Scotland CEO Fraser Sutherland appeared on BBC Radio Scotland on 21 February to talk about faith and policy-making in a secular country. There has been much discussion in recent days of FM candidate Kate Forbes’s links to a…
Humanist Society supports abortion education petition
February 6, 2023
Humanist Society Scotland has written in support of teacher Gemma Clark’s petition to ensure that children at schools in Scotland have access to medically sound, non-biased abortion education. Ms Clark wrote to the Scottish Parliament’s Citizen Participation and Public Petitions…
Herald exposé of anti-abortion campaign in Scottish schools
December 19, 2022
An expose by The Herald newspaper uncovered how extensive access is given to anti-abortion group SPUC in Scottish schools.