ANNUAL REPORT 2000

In the year 2000, the first IHEU Regional Congress in the Southern Hemisphere, Australis 2000 was held in Sydney; the first IHEU International Conference in South America Latin America: Between Freedom and Fundamentalism was organized in Argentina, and a successful International Conference Contre 2000 Ans d'Obscurité: La Pensée Libre, Une Chance pour L'Humanité was held at Avignon under the sponsorship of the IHEU. IHEU was active in the consultative process leading up to a European Peace Conference being convened by the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation; and also lent its support to the Gay Pride events in Rome. IHEU also participated in the Warsaw UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Expert Seminar on Racism and Xenophobia, issued statements on the subject, and also started preparations for organizing a Seminar at the World Conference on Racism and Xenophobia in South Africa, to be held in September 2001. Plans were also drawn up with Member Organizations in the Netherlands for the IHEU's 50th Anniversary Congress (July 2002).

During the year, IHEU achieved the Special Consultative NGO Status with the UN, and also has had a high profile presence at UNESCO in Paris, the year when IHEU was a Peace partner for UNESCO. IHEU received special recognition at the Council of Europe, Strasbourg, with the Council of Europe recognizing the contributions made by IHEU's representative to the Council of Europe, who also contributed to a popular publication of the Council of Europe on Human Rights. During 2000, IHEU also cooperated with the 'UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief' in his preparations towards the UN Conference on Education being organized in Spain, where IHEU is also invited as an expert contributor. International Humanism was also represented at the 'NGO Millennium Forum' at the UN in New York, as well as in NGO Forum activities at the UN in Geneva.

Also, importantly, the IHEU worked with the UN Special Rapporteur's office, and its own Member Organisations, to conduct an international campaign to defend several humanists, full details of which cannot yet be revealed for strategic reasons; and also because the cases are at a sensitive stage. IHEU successfully defended a Humanist editor in India in a similar 'offence to religions' case. As a member of the international advisory board of the Oslo Coalition on Freedom of Religion or Belief, IHEU represented Humanist interests among the community of Religious and Human Rights NGOs at various meetings.

Also, IHEU's lobbying on behalf of its member organizations was extended to the European level in cooperation with the European Humanist Federation, which resulted in the spotlight being thrown on the situation for Slovakian Humanism; lobbying statements were issued on EU Directive 565 as well. 

A Humanist Millennium Walk was organized for an enthusiastic humanist walker, involving participation from various IHEU-member Humanist groups in Europe; an International Essay competition was organized on Children's Rights and Religion; a process of restructuring IHEU's secretariats was begun, and IHEYO, the IHEU's youth wing was also relaunched. A youth internship-programme has been set up involving some IHEU member organizations in the US. An IHEU Development Internet-based network was launched involving leaders of humanist organizations. IHEU continued to administer the IHEU-HIVOS Humanist Networking and Development fund and supported Humanist projects in several countries in the third world.

Taking a new step, and leading Humanism in a new direction of dialogue and cooperation, the IHEU also initiated steps to hold a Buddhist-Humanist Dialogue in Thailand in the coming years.

While the President, Vice Presidents and Executive Director participated at major Humanist events organized by IHEU's member organizations in France, Russia, Australia, India, Belgium and in the US, lending the weight of the International Humanist movement to important national events, IHEU also established closer relationship for International Humanism with various similar thinking non-member organisations like the Tandem Project, the World Federation of Right to Die Societies, the International Association of Secular Humanistic Jews, Atheist Alliance, Skeptics Society, Campus Freethought Alliance, Secular Students Alliance and Reporters Sans Frontieres.

The extent and reach of International Humanism has clearly expanded - but there is more the IHEU can do with a bit more support from the IHEU's close collaborators, members and supporters.