Equality Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 168:"Page 25, line 22, leave out ““means any religious or philosophical belief”” and insert ““has the same meaning as in Schedule 1 to the Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42)””" The noble Baroness said: In moving Amendment No. 168 I wish to speak also to Amendment No. 210 with which it is grouped and which covers the same point. We now come to the difficult area of defining religion and belief. It has been suggested to me by the Humanist Association, of which I am a vice-president, that a definition which diverges from that of the European Convention on Human Rights is liable to cause some difficulty. We would prefer wording that ensures that ““belief”” is interpreted in line with case law under the ECHR, making it clear that the beliefs intended are those that amount to a world view or life stance. The German text of the ECHR refers to Weltanschauung. We have discussed this before in the context of the Charities Bill. The Human Rights Act 1998 incorporated Article 9 of the ECHR into our law, and it says:"““Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance””." There is therefore no need for a definition separate from that which ““belief”” already has in UK law as a result of the Human Rights Act. I beg to move.