IHEU has spoken out at the United Nations against the harassment of its International Representative Leo Igwe in Nigeria, and against proposed discriminatory legislation in Uganda. The statement was delivered at the Geneva Human Rights Council by IHEU Representative David Cornut. A video of the statement is available here.

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill currently before the Ugandan Parliament proposes the death penalty for certain consenting homosexual acts. Sponsored by the Ugandan MP, David Bahati, the Bill is expected to be debated and voted on in the coming weeks.

The worldwide problem of belief in witchcraft and the appalling human rights abuses to which it leads received a boost in September at the 12th session of the UN Human Rights Council held in Geneva, Switzerland.

Homophobia is the greatest test Humanists are facing today in Uganda. As I write this piece, demonstrators - a bunch of youth led by Uganda's thieving and hypocritical pastors are - covering the entire Kampala city with vehicles loaded with mega-speakers and hundreds of youth shouting all sorts of insults at the Danish embassy, very near to my office, and all other foreign embassies that have recently come out to speak for tolerance and a need to observe human rights laws.

Ugandan Humanists are calling for international support in protesting a proposed new anti-gay law that would introduce extraordinarily harsh punishments, including the death penalty for homosexual acts and prison for family who fail to inform the authorities of homosexual relatives.

The SSA has affiliates all over the world - including several in Africa. Betty Nassaka, chairperson of the Ugandan Humanist Effort to Save Women (UHESWO), sends along this brief summary of her group's successes on campus.

"Justice has come in Uganda! The shouts of excitement and tears of joy from African transgender, lesbian, and gay Human Rights Defenders can still be felt from the court room and all around the continent. On 22 December 2008, the High Court of Uganda ruled on Victor Mukasa and Oyoo's case, declaring that Ugandan constitutional rights apply to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT/Kuchu) people regardless of whether they are homosexual or transgender.

IHEU is sponsoring a conference that will bring together African Humanists from the East African Region. At least six African countries will be represented. Humanists from other continents are also planning to attend.

The Ugandan Humanists (UHASSO) have developed a range of projects to benefit local communities – each a demonstration of Humanism in action.

Betty Nassaka is the founder president of the Ugandan Humanist Effort to Save Women (UHESWO) which is affiliated to IHEU member organization UHASSO. In this personal account she writes about how she developed a critical and independent mind in a country where religion and tradition dominate and rarely give women the opportunity to grow.