A concern has been raised about proposals to extend the Charity Commission’s powers not including stronger protections for women and LGBT people.
This week, the government launched a 10-week consultation on strengthening the commission’s abilities to tackle extremist abuse of charities.
Under the proposals, the commission would be empowered to ban those who promote or encourage “violence, or racial or religious hatred” from being trustees or holding senior roles at charities.
However, the National Secular Society (NSS) has warned that not also giving the commission powers to tackle hate based on sex or sexual orientation “could still permit religious charities to promote misogyny and homophobia”.
NSS said that while the powers may enable the commission to challenge those encouraging violence against women or LGBT people, “it won’t stop them promoting ideologies which motivate such violence”.
The organisation, which campaigns for the separation of religion and state, has raised several concerns previously about speeches made on charity premises and published a report last year on the topic called Mission and Misogyny.
Published on Wednesday, the new proposals note that “not all instances of extremism or hatred are racially or religiously motivated”.
“However, hatred relating to a particular race, religion, or belief makes up the vast majority of the commission’s existing casework relating to extremism,” they read.
“And this power has been drafted to ensure that these types of behaviour are captured, whilst maintaining a coherent framework for decision-making that doesn’t draw the commission into wider societal debates or infringe on the rights of individuals and charities to freedom of speech.”
In addition, individuals convicted of specified hate-related offences would be automatically disqualified from acting as charity trustees or senior managers under the proposals.
This would include people convicted of committing a hate crime under the Public Order Act 1986, including those found guilty of stirring up hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation.
‘Fair game for hate and discrimination’
Megan Manson, head of campaigns at NSS, said: “These proposals fall far short of tackling some of the most egregious problems in the charity sector.
“Greater powers to tackle charities which promote violence, or hatred based on race or religion or belief, are of course welcome and long overdue.
“But the failure to protect women and LGBT people, who are too often the subject of stigmatising sermons hosted by religious charities, is unacceptable.
“This omission may even send the message that women and LGBT people are fair game for hate and discrimination.”
‘Anyone who advocates violence against women has no place in charity’
A spokesperson for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport said: “The government is committed to ensuring that charities operate for the public benefit and that the charity sector cannot be used to promote extremism, hatred or violence.
“The government is clear that hatred directed at any group can be harmful and unacceptable.
“We welcome views from stakeholders on the proposals and will carefully consider responses to the consultation before deciding on the way forward.”
A Charity Commission spokesperson said: “Anyone who advocates violence against women has absolutely no place in charity. Regardless of their purpose, charities must operate for the public benefit and should provide a safe and trusted environment for all.
“While the proposals by government are specific, these include expanding our discretionary powers to disqualify people who promote violence of any kind.
“We can, and do take action under our existing powers, where we find evidence of misconduct involving protected characteristics or hateful activity that damages public trust and confidence.
“We encourage all interested parties to take part in the consultation and have their say.”
The consultation is open to charities and closes on 23 December.
