Meetings:
11th March 2014 a representative of Sikh Council UK was invited to join the National Prevent Challenge Panel and attended an initial meeting in Manchester. 18th March 2014 Individuals from Sikh Council UK were invited to attend the Parliamentary launch of ‘Sikhs for Labour’ held at the House of Commons, Westminster.
Media:
Various appearances by representatives of Sikh Council UK on Sikh broadcast media.
Interfaith work:
9th March 2014 Southwark Cathedral Inter-Faith Group organised a forum about faithbased social action including a musical evening, where friends of different faiths performed short songs or instrumental pieces from their own religious traditions. Representative of Sikh Council UK arranged for a Kirtan jatha to attend the event and perform Kirtan.
Update – Future of Census:
Further to the consultation exercise in which Sikh Council UK actively participated, therecently published report recommends that the 200-year old census should not be scrapped but the current paper forms mailed to households should be replaced with an online questionnaire. The Sikh Council UK with its affiliated member organisations will continue to campaign for the inclusion of Sikhs as a distinct ethnic minority category along with Sikhs as a
faith group within the census – whatever form it takes. Update – Same Sex
Marriages:
The Sikh Council UK actively contributed to consultations carried out by Government and the Equalities & Human Rights Commission and are pleased to confirm the Regulations and guidance accept that Gurdwaras (and other faith organisations) will not be required to conduct same sex marriages. The Sikh Council UK continues to encourage Gurdwaras to formally pass a resolution that no Granthi, Kirtaniay or other Sewadas (employed or visiting) would be permitted to carry out Anand Karaj ceremony for same sex couples on any site in line with the
ruling of Sri Akal Takhat sahib Ji. Draft resolutions are available from Sikh Council UK. Update – Inclusion of Caste
in Equality Act 2010:
The Sikh Council UK is considering the recently published report commissioned by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission and will be commenting shortly. The Sikh Council UK will also shortly be circulating anti-caste discrimination policies for
