The International Humanist & Ethical Union:

* Being of the opinion that all people should have the freedom to choose their own life style and that all people - regardless of their sexual preference - are fundamentally equal and have equal rights to a human existence;

* Being of the opinion that this right of individual self-determination and equality form the basis of democracy and should be defended against all forms of prejudice and discrimination;

* Being of the opinion that the freedom to make information freely available to all people to enable them to realise their right to self-determination and equality is of special importance;

* Being fully acquainted with the contents of Section 28 Local Government Act, henceforth referred to as Section 28, which came into force on May 24th, 1988 in the United Kingdom;

* Being of the opinion that Section 28 threatens the objective and unbiased availability of information about homosexuality in schools and to the public in general;

* Being of the opinion that Section 28 makes it possible to discriminate against the granting of public funds to organisations in which homosexuals or bisexuals are involved;

* Being of the opinion that Section 28 can be used as a justification for the continuation of discrimination against homosexual men and lesbian women;

* Being of the opinion that Section 28 will lead to an increase in discrimination against homosexual men and lesbian women;

* Considers Section 28 a violation of human rights as upheld by:

-The Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
-The United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
-The European Convention of Human Rights.

All of which have been co-signed by the United Kingdom, as well as a violation of numerous resolutions of the European Parliament and European Assembly;
Asks its member organisations to be active in:

* Giving moral and - if possible - material support to individuals and/or organisations in the United Kingdom who directly or indirectly get into difficulties as a result of Section 28;

* Putting pressure on the national political parties for an expression of their disapproval of the British Government's actions in relation to section 28;

* Asking organisations concerned with human rights and social matters to take notice of Section 28 and to adopt a similar attitude with respect to Section 28 as contained in this resolution.

Board of Directors 1988