Inauguration of new humanist headquarters in Belgium

THE inauguration of the impressive 5-floor headquarters of the Centre d'Action Laique on 18 September 1997 marks a significant phase in the development of humanism in Belgium. The elegant building which was completed in a record time with subsidies from the Brussels Capital Authority as well as contributions from individuals is a splendid culmination of the efforts of CAL to find a suitable home for its activities and some of its member groups.

The inauguration of the building was attended by Charles Picque Ministre-PrOsident of the government, and Herve Hasquin, Minister for the Brussels Capital Region; the European Humanist Federation which now has two convenient offices in this building was represented by its Secretary General, Claude Wachtelaer, and Treasurer Werner Schultz. IHEU was represented by its President Rob Tielman and Babu Gogineni. Philippe Grollet, the President of CAL spoke of his vision for the CAL through a film made for the occasion by their audio visual wing CLAV which has its own spacious and hi-tech studios in the building.

Two open days were organised when the member organisations of CAL set up information stands and exhibitions on themes as varied as human rights, education, contraception, adult education, counselling. Discussions on racism, youth, euthanasia etc. attracted a variety of people. Others were impressed by the games for children, trips to humanist web-sites on the Internet, while others tried to learn about production of CAL's very interesting magazine Espace de Libertds or participated in the new audio-visual venture: Questions a la Laicite.

Humanism in Belgium is high profile, and very visible - and it makes its presence felt regularly on radio, television and in the newspapers. This is how Le Soir, a newspaper with wide circulation announced the events: 'The Centre d'Action Laique has a new home at the Campus of the Universite Libre de Brussels. Do go and visit it during the open days, it's worth the visit. But if you live in Tegucigalpa, Hanoi or Wanchipur, visit it internet-site hosted by the University...and it will tell you what humanism is: like humanism, it reflects tolerance, and free discussion...'

Belgian humanists can now be proud of a building which reflects their dynamic humanism.

Visit the CAL at http://www.ulb.ac.be/cal/

THE Centre d'Action Laique (CAL), a full member of IHEU, is the organisation for French-speaking Belgian Humanists, and co-ordinates the activities of its 25 member associations and 7 regional sections in Wallonie and Brussels. The CAE represents and defends humanist interests while dealing with public authorities, and provides varied services to the French speaking humanist community in the country: moral counselling, human rights education, resource and documentation centres, humanist ceremonies, helping children and youth with emotional problems, alcoholics...

The Centre d'Action Laique was founded on 29 March 1969 and today publishes the monthly magazine Espasce de Libertes, with a circulation of 10,000; the bi-monthly Passerelies and several monographs. The Centre Laique Audio Visual (CLAV, a participating organisation of the Humanist Media Secretariat of IHEU) co-produces television programmes with La Pensee et les Hommes; several weekly radio and television broadcasts are made on behalf of the Humanist movement.

Since 1996 the CAE has been organising Convention Laittues, a forum for the exchange of humanist ideas. The CAL - in collaboration with its sister organisations - has been a very active contributor to issues relating to Europe: it has produced expert statements on the Convention on Bio-ethics of the Council of Europe (1992); voiced at the time of the Inter-governmental Conference discussing the revised Treaty of Rome, its objections (Publication: Europe Terre d'Humanisme) to the proposal of Germany, Italy and Australia to specifically mention Churches as part of European Cultural Heritage, and to create a constitutional status for them.

CAL's Vice-President Georges Lienard represented IHEU and EHF at a recent International Symposium on Bio-Ethics, organised by the Council of Europe. The text of his speech will be published in the next issue of IHN.

The Flemish-speaking equivalent of the CAE is the Unie Vrijzinnige Verenigingen, which co-ordinates the activities of about 30 Flemish speaking humanist groups. The UVV is applying to IHEU for membership.

Since 1972, the CAE and the UVV have been co-ordinating their activities by means of a 10-member committee called the Counseil Central Laique (CCL), recognised by law since 1981 as representing the non-believer community in Belgium. The CCL is responsible for providing moral counselling within the armed forces, at the Brussels airport, and for representing the secularist case to the federal authorities.

The Humanistisch Verbond which is also a full member of IHEU is the largest individual member organisation and has about 80 branches in Flandre. The CAE and HV are both members of the European Humanist Federation.

The Association Laique Humanistishce Prasenz was formed in 1988 to work in the German-speaking parts of Belgium. Its work covers 9 communes in the German speaking parts of Belgium.