Secularist of the Year, also known as the Irwin Prize, is an award presented annually in the United Kingdom by the National Secular Society in "recognition of an individual or an organisation considered to have made an outstanding contribution to the secularist movement."
The award was established in 2005, and until 2017 it was sponsored by and named after humanist and secularist campaigner Dr. Michael Irwin. The prize consisted of a trophy, the "Golden Ammonite", and a cheque for £5000. The last time Secularist of the Year was awarded was in 2019.
List of recipients + Year Portrait Name Citation Presenter 2005 For "her work in defence of women's rights and the right to freedom of expression" 2006 For "his contribution to the promotion of secularism" 2007 For "her life opposing the mistreatment of women by the Iranian clerical regime" 2008 2009 For "their work in the abolition of blasphemy law" 2010 — Southall Black Sisters For "their support of black and Asian women's human rights" Michael Irwin 2011 For "her work as chair of the European Parliamentary Platform for Secularism in Politic" 2012 For "his lifelong commitment to the defence of human rights against religious fundamentalism" 2013— Plan UK "In honour of young human rights activist Malala Yousafzai, the prize was donated to Plan UK" for its campaign to ensure equal access to education for girls worldwide. 2014 For "her international work promoting secularism, Human Rights and gender equality as well as humanitarian aid and peace-building" 2015 Charlie Hebdo For "its courageous response to the terror attack on its Paris office and defence of secularism" 2016 — Educate Together For "its work in challenging religious discrimination/privilege in Ireland's education system and setting out a positive vision for inclusive secular education" 2017 For "her advocacy of a secularist approach to tackling hate crime, promoting social cohesion and the human rights of women, and challenging sectarianism and theocracy" 2018—For "their courageous campaigning work over many years to expose the institutional abuse of children and vulnerable adults in the Church of England"Peter Tatchell— 2019—For "his courageous defense of Asia Bibi and other clients in Pakistan accused of blasphemy"
See also
List of religion-related awards
Notes
References