What an exciting week it’s been! After many years of campaigning the Humanist Association of Ireland (HAI) is nearing its goal of gaining legal status for Humanist weddings in Ireland.

Matt Cherry represented the International Humanist and Ethical Union at the Fourth Annual Global Sikh Civil and Human Rights Conference at the United Nations Church Center on April 24. The conference brought together more than a hundred Sikh leaders and human rights activists from across the globe.

The Malta Humanist Association (MHA) has launched a campaign calling for Malta to adopt a secular constitution. The campaign comes during a public debate, led by the president of Malta, to discuss constitutional reform in the Mediterranean island nation.

The British Humanist Association (BHA) has today launched a campaign to remove reserved seats for the Bishops from the House of Lords. The campaign, “Holy Redundant”, follows on from the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Draft House of Lords Reform Bill reporting on Monday in support of the Government’s proposals to keep reserved seats for Bishops in a reformed second chamber by a vote of 13-7.

Professor Richard Dawkins, Vice President and Distinguished Supporter of the British Humanist Association (BHA), has this week been announced as the recipient of the BHA's prestigious Services to Humanism award, which will be presented at the gala dinner at the BHA Annual Conference in Cardiff on Saturday 9 June.

On March 29th the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion and Belief, NY, and the NGO Committee on Human Rights, NY, sponsored a meeting to discuss the topic of blasphemy. The presenters were Austin Dacey from the International Humanist and Ethical Union and Pamela Takiff of Human Rights First.

IHEU is pleased to announce the appointment of a full-time Communications Officer, Bob Churchill. He has already started work at the Gower Street office in London, working alongside IHEU Administrator Colin Divens (appointed last year).