Humanist Women’s International Network<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

The Humanist Women’s International Network has been set up within IHEU.  The network was launched at the Empowering Women Conference in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />London in November 2003.

The purposes of the network are to:

·         To promote women’s rights, empowerment and development within the UN system and the international community

·         To challenge women’s subservience in the world’s religions

·         To promote and encourage humanist women to participate in their national women’s lobby and governmental agencies

·         To put gender on the agenda of humanist organisations

·         To promote and encourage women to take leadership positions within their national humanist organisations

Membership of the network is open to Humanist Women who are concerned about and wish to promote women’s rights, empowerment and development across the globe.    To join the network, please subscribe to our email mailing list. The Women’s Network Co-ordinator is Robbi Robson.

The empowerment of women will be the best way of achieving the UN Millennium Goals.   The policy priorities for the network were agreed at the launch conference and are:

·         Education of girls

·         Economic empowerment and independence of women

·         Health and reproductive rights

·         Civil and political rights

·         Violence against women

·         Separation of religion and state

Individuals with a special interest and expertise in these policy priorities are welcome to participate in the development of IHEU policy in these areas, by emailing to womensnetwork@iheu.org.