What is an anti-sectarian approach?
An anti-sectarian approach is one that is aware of and alert to the existence of sectarianism, religious bigotry or sectarian discrimination and actively challenges their expression and effects. A school or organisation that adopts an anti-sectarian approach will attempt to identify – and change – those things in a school and society that lead to negative discrimination, intended or unwitting, against people on the basis of their religion and beliefs. More importantly, it is a perspective and approach that is about equipping people with the tools needed to combat sectarianism and sectarian discrimination, and to find ways to build a society that includes all people on an equal footing. An anti-sectarian school or youth work project should demonstrate both approaches, that is, celebrating differences as well as tackling religious intolerance in all its forms which include sectarianism.
