Geneva, Switzerland -- In four statements to the United Nations (UN), made on Sept. 22, 2009, the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) raised the alarm about human rights abuses across the world and threats to the very existence of universal standards of human rights. In a statement to the 12th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, the IHEU warned about the danger of plans by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to create an Islamic system of rights that could compete with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Human Rights Council itself. IHEU called on the Council to refuse to recognize any human rights structure that did not accept existing international law. In three additional statements the IHEU condemned murderous witchcraft and witch hunts in Africa, the Catholic Church’s response to child abuse, and slavery in Mauritania and Sudan.

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The first “World Conference on Untouchability” concluded today [10 June 2009] with the launch of a global initiative against caste discrimination. The conference, organized in London on June 9 and 10 by the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), brought together nearly a hundred politicians, academics and grass roots leaders to share successful strategies to combat caste discrimination and help the nearly 250 million victims of Untouchability. The conference declaration, passed unanimously, proposes expanding successful grass roots programmes, improving national legislation, and strengthening UN enforcement mechanisms.

The first "World Conference on Untouchability" has prompted questions in the House of Commons and the House of Lords about government policy towards the global human rights problem of caste discrimination, which afflicts almost 250 million people in countries from Japan to Nigeria. The questions were raised by Jeremy Corbyn, MP, and Lord Avebury. Both parliamentarians will speak at the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) conference, to be held at Conway Hall Humanist Centre, London, on June 9 and 10.

IHEU has received a gift of more than US$2.5 million from the estate of the late Victor Kay, a longtime Humanist who lived in Los Angeles, California. The bequest is the largest individual gift in IHEU’s 57-year history. “This is a transformative, momentum-building gift that demonstrates real leadership on behalf of Mr. Kay,” said Sonja Eggerickx, president of the IHEU. “IHEU is extremely grateful, as this underwrites our efforts as the leader in Humanism around the globe.”

Government representatives, activists and experts from around the world will address the first “World Conference on Untouchability” at Conway Hall Humanist Centre, London, UK, on June 9 and 10, 2009. Speakers include political leaders Lord Desai of St. Clement Danes, from the British House of Lords, and Mahendra Paswan, Nepal’s Minister for Land Reform, as well as grassroots campaigners against untouchability, including Babu Gogineni in India and Leo Igwe in Nigeria. The conference is organized by the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) to explore a problem that afflicts nearly 250 million people in countries from Japan to Nigeria.

The debate over voluntary euthanasia in the United States has been thrust back into the headlines by the arrest of four people by authorities in the state of Georgia. Four members of the Final Exit Network were arrested on Feb. 25 and charged with assisting in a suicide and other offenses, including violating Georgia’s RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act.

IHEU and two other NGOs have issued a press release at the UN in Geneva, demanding that the Iranian President be prosecuted under the Genocide Convention, following his call for Israel to be "wiped off the map". Aussi disponible en franà§ais . Anche disponibile in italiano . New: also available in Arabic .

GENEVA, 27 January 2006 -- The call by the Iranian President for the destruction of the State of Israel in defiance of article 2:4 of the United Nations Charter demands a firm reaction from the international community. On this, the first International Day of Commemoration of Holocaust Victims, we call upon states to invoke the Genocide Convention and bring the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran to trial before the International Criminal Court.

IHEU and 16 other NGOs have written to the UN Commissioner for Human Rights to express serious concern at the General Assembly's decision to take no action and prevent debate on the European Union's resolution concerning the tragic situation in Darfur, Sudan. IHEU and the other NGOs called on the Commissioner to find other ways of dealing with serious and persistent human rights violations such as those in Sudan.

PRESS RELEASE - For Immediate Release
Palais des Nations, Geneva, 23 August 2005

In the latest step in a long-running campaign at the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva by three NGOs: the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), the Association for World Education (AWE) and the Association of World Citizens (AWC), the IHEU today condemned as "gratuitously insulting" an oral statement made by Pakistani's Ambassador to the UN on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic States (OIC), and issued a detailed rebuttal.