HUMANISTS have launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for a legal challenge to give pupils the right to opt out of religious observance in Scottish schools.

The Humanist Society Scotland (HSS) is aiming to raise £30,000 to fund costs associated with seeking a judicial review at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, such as legal advice and associated court fees.

Currently all pupils in Scottish schools require parental permission to withdraw from religious observance activities, such as assemblies. In England and Wales sixth form pupils have the right to choose to opt out themselves.

A recent review by the United Nations Children's Rights Committee raised concerns that children in Scotland do not have the right to withdraw from “collective worship” without parental permission and recommended compulsory attendance was scrapped.

The crowdfunding appeal, which will take place on the CrowdJustice site, was launched at the HSS annual conference in Edinburgh yesterday.

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