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In the News

  • Mail: Child blocks on porn breach adults' rights, says the UN: Official claims new laws interfere with the right to freedom of expression and privacy
    January 11th, 2017

    A new law that prevents children from accessing pornographic websites breaches the human rights of adults who use them, according to a senior United Nations official.

    After a campaign by the Daily Mail, Culture Secretary Karen Bradley is to force porn sites to carry out age checks so only adults can see explicit material, or face fines of up to £250,000.

    But the plans have been condemned by David Kaye, the UN’s special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

    Read more.

  • Pink News: Tories vote to block compulsory LGBT inclusive sex education but promise reform
    January 11th, 2017

    The Conservatives have blocked plans for compulsory LGBT-inclusive sex and relationship education in schools.

    Education Secretary Justine Greening has repeatedly suggested she is open to reform on sex and relationship education, hinting last summer that the issue was near the top of her "in tray".

    An all-female group of MPs led by Labour’s Stella Creasy this week attempted to secure reform on the issue, tabling an amendment to the Children and Social Work Bill to make lessons on "sex and relationships education, same-sex relationships, sexual consent, sexual violence, and domestic violence" mandatory in all schools.

    Read more.

  • Guardian: Christians in India increasingly under attack, study shows
    January 11th, 2017

    The persecution of Christians in India has risen over the past year, pushing it up a league table of countries where the practice of the faith is a high-risk activity, according to a monitoring organisation.

    The world’s second most populous country has risen to No 15 on the 2017 World Watch List, up from 31 four years ago. The list, compiled by Open Doors, is headed by North Korea for the 16th year in a row.

    Iraq and Syria slipped down the table, mainly because so many Christians have fled from Islamic State, the main source of persecution and violence. The Christian population of Aleppo has fallen from 400,000 before the Syrian civil war to fewer than 60,000 now, Open Doors estimated.

    Read more. 

  • Times (£): Ministers urged to make schools give lessons on LGBTI
    January 11th, 2017

    SNP ministers are facing growing pressure from their own backbenchers to introduce laws forcing schools to embrace the rollout of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) education.

    The Time for Inclusive Education (Tie) campaign has built significant support since its launch in 2015, and last year a motion passed overwhelmingly at the SNP conference backed its aims.

    The group said, however, that despite warm words from senior ministers, including Nicola Sturgeon, no progress had been made since the Holyrood election in May on implementing any of its proposals.

    Read more. 

  • Guardian: Poll finds majority of schoolchildren want sex education
    January 11th, 2017

    Three-quarters of children between the ages of 11 and 15 believe they would be safer if they had age-appropriate sex and relationship education (SRE) in school, according to a survey by a leading children's charity.

    Seven in 10 of the children who took part in the poll, which was commissioned by Barnardo's and carried out by YouGov, said the government should ensure that all pupils have SRE lessons, and 14% said they had not received any SRE lessons in school at all.

    Read more. 

  • Mail: Peru takes step toward recognizing same-sex marriage
    January 10th, 2017

    Peru has taken a small step toward recognizing same-sex marriage with a court's recognition of the Mexican marriage between two men.

    Peruvian gay rights activist Oscar Ugarteche tried to register his marriage to his Mexican partner shortly after the two were wed in Mexico City in 2010 so that he could change his marital status on his passport. When his request was denied, he sued.

    Read more.

  • BBC: Morocco 'bans the sale and production of the burka'
    January 10th, 2017

    Morocco has banned the sale, production and import of the burka, according to local reports.

    Letters announcing the ban were sent out on Monday, giving businesses 48 hours to get rid of their stock, the reports stated.

    There was no official announcement from the government, but unnamed officials told outlets the decision was made due to "security concerns".

    It is unclear if Morocco is now intending to ban the garment outright.

    Read more.

  • Evangelical Alliance: Church missing the opportunity to speak to young people about key issues, report warns
    January 10th, 2017

    The majority of churches in Great Britain are failing to talk to young people about the issues they’re facing, according to new research.

    Youthscape, a Luton-based charity delivering innovative youth work across the country, has launched a report call Losing Heart, which surveyed 2,054 churches across England, Scotland and Wales to identify the needs of those working with children and young people.

    The report found only half of churches “often” speak to their young people about the basics of the Christian faith.  

    Read more. 

  • NY Times: Muslim Girls in Switzerland Must Attend Swim Classes With Boys, Court Says
    January 10th, 2017

    In 2008, school officials in Basel, Switzerland, ordered a Muslim couple to enroll their daughters in a mandatory swimming class, despite the parents’ objections to having their girls learn alongside boys.

    The officials offered the couple some accommodations: The girls, 9 and 7 at the time, could wear body-covering swimsuits, known as burkinis, during the swimming lessons, and they could undress for the class without any boys present.

    Read more. 

  • Mirror: Blind mice able to see light after stem cell transplants
    January 10th, 2017

    Mice which lost their sight were able to detect light after having stem cell transplants, giving hope that one day humans could have their sight restored.

    Scientists plan to carry out clinical trials in humans with worsening vision, following the “exciting” research on mice which had lost their sight through retinal degeneration.

    While researchers cautioned that restoring sight in people was some way off, they have proposed to move on to human trials after further animal testing. 

    Read more.