The Charter of the United Nations affirms faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human individual and in the equal rights of men and women. In 1979 the General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Although this convention sets forth the responsibility of all governments, it is yet to be observed with the necessary political commitment and resources.

In the year 2000, the member states at the United Nations undertook an ambitious challenge to meet the basic needs of the globe. They set eight goals to be achieved by 2015: the Millennium Development Goals. These goals, for the world’s well being, are designed to free a major portion of humanity from the shackles of extreme poverty, hunger, illiteracy and disease. They also established targets for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women. The plan was designed to be affordable, measurable and doable. Progress can be monitored.

Since the 1980s, advocates for children have increasingly agreed that children need their rights to be protected by international law. Charity is not enough to protect children around the world.

In the year 2000, at the historic moment we called the Millennium, the UN undertook an ambitious programme. All of the UN member states agreed to a challenge to meet the basic needs of the globe within 15 years.

The extraordinarily timely World Day of Social Justice recently established by the UN builds on the idea expressed byh Adam Smith that economic success depends on the wellbeing of people: "prudence is a virtue for individuals", but "humanity, justice, generosity and public spirit are the qualities most useful to others."

IHEU has appointed Matt Cherry as its newest International Representative. Cherry brings twenty years as a professional leader to the nonreligious movement to help the organization create a US presence and expand relationships globally. His responsibilities will include leading the IHEU’s representation at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, developing a new communications strategy for the organization, and strengthening relations between IHEU and humanist groups in North America.

This meeting of the IHEU GA resolves that IHEU and its Member Organisations support the GEAR Campaign (Gender Equity Architecture Reform) and the United Nations High Level Panel on system wide coherence recommendations whose main points are:

Does the UN effectively promote international security, peace and wellbeing worldwide? The UN is a repository of our hopes. It reflects and embodies the highest ideals. At the same time it also embodies and reflects the realities of international politics.

International Women's Day, on March 8th, 2008, had at its theme "Investing In Women and Girls. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon observed that "investing in women is not only the right thing to do. It is the smart thing to do. I am deeply convinced that, in women, the world has at its disposal, the most significant and yet largely untapped potential for development and peace."

"The Impact of Obstetric Fistulas on Economic Empowerment” was the title of a topic dissected by a unique panel discussion held 3 March 2008 in New York City. The medical and socioeconomic impact of obstetric fistulas was considered under the auspices of the United Nations Commission of the Status of Women, with the co-sponsorship of the IHEU-Appignani Center for Bioethics.