From the Executive Director

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Holding its first General Assembly in Africa, and sponsoring two major international conferences in the continent, was a significant step for IHEU and for international Humanism. If there is one continent that desperately needs Humanism, human rights and human values, that continent is Africa. Our Humanist colleagues in Africa work bravely to keep alive a flickering flame. The time we spent in Uganda, Nigeria, and Ethiopia made us all realize the scale of the challenges that lie before us in Africa (p. 6). “We are the African diaspora,” Roy Brown memorably reminded us in his conference speech. The conference ‘Humanist Visions for Africa’ gave us an insight into the problems, and how we can help our mother continent.

To achieve progress in a continent choking under the grip of religion, we need to organize ourselves and articulate the Humanist alternative more effectively. The launch of the African Humanist Alliance as part of IHEU is aimed at this. But even in Europe, Humanists cannot relax: the Vatican’s concordats with European states pose a serious threat to secularism (p. 5).

The fiasco of the Iraq war and its aftermath has only served to underline the importance of strengthening the UN, the only moral force that can help restore faith in a just international order and direct moves towards human rights for all. At the UN Commission for Human Rights, IHEU’s delegation ensures that the voice of international Humanism is heard.

Faith in India’s democracy was restored by the electoral defeat of the Hindu nationalist BJP in May. It is hoped that the new leadership will dare to bring to justice the god man Satya Sai Baba, who has thus far survived serious allegations of paedophilia through his network of devotees in high places.

The death of Dr Indumati Parikh, social activist and former President of the Indian Radical Humanist Association, who leaves behind the legacy of a lifetime’s work in empowering women in the slums of Mumbai, is a tragic loss to the international Humanist community.

Her work is an inspiring example of what can be achieved by a determined, practical Humanist approach.

Finally, I hope you have already made arrangements to participate in IHEU’s World Humanist Congress in Paris next year – it promises to be an exciting and inspiring event!

Babu Gogineni