European Humanist Federation looks back on a year of development

The General Assembly of the European Humanist Union took place on 15 February 1996. The Union was able to look back on a year of successful contacts with the EU, of support for European humanist ventures (especially in Eastern and Central Europe), and of continuing difficulties in organisation and finances.

THE EHF succeeded in obtaining some money from EU sources, which was used to underpin the October Conference on Eastern Europe organised by the Humanistischer Verband Deutschlands and for a seminar on Humanist Dialogue held in February 1996 in Utrecht.

EHF delegates attended a meeting on the ethical aspects of the labelling of foods derived from modern biotechnology, organised by the Group of Advisors on the Ethical Implications of Biotechnology. The EHF was represented in Spain by Rob Tielman (IHEU Co-President) and Claude Wachtelaer at a dialogue in Barcelona organised by the Forward Studies Unit from the European Commission. The themes included: 'The three monotheistic religions as bridges of reconciliation in society', 'The role of women in the three religions today and in the future?'

The EHF has taken part in the monthly lunch and debate programme 'Thinking Freely about Europe'. Among the meetings were: 'The European Union and Human Rights', 'A Mexican Kaleidoscope', 'Women's Rights after the Beijing Conference'.

The EHF was also invited to take part in a discussion of the Council of Churches Secretary for the Federation of Russia on the theme: 'Do religions play a role in the construction of post-communist Russia?'

The limited finances of the EHF allow payment of small administrative and travel expenses, but money for a paid General Secretary is needed of the Federation's activities are to be successful.

Secretariat for Central and Eastern Europe

This Secretariat was established in 1994 as a decentralised office of the European Humanist Federation with its headquarters in Berlin. A very successful Conference was held in Berlin in October 1995. (See full report in International Humanist News, December 1995).

The problems of isolation and lack of funding beset the humanist organisations in Eastern and Central Europe. There has developed an overwhelming predominance of the Catholic Church in some areas. The Secretariat aims to co-ordinate contacts, to initiate and develop an exchange, to impart knowledge gained from humanist organisations in the West and vice versa, to organise practical and financial assistance.

In 1995, in addition to the October conference in Berlin, there was a five-day-long seminar for Polish teachers of ethics, two study trips to Warsaw/Cracow and Budapest, and the participation in an international youth camp in Berlin by a Polish youth group. A further aim is to study the infiltration of sects and new religious movements into Central and Eastern European Societies.

Contacts between the Czech and Austrian freethinkers have been assisted.

The lone-term future of the Secretariat is not secure. In the long-run the financial and administrative burden of running an international secretariat cannot be carried by one national association.