IHEU has followed up its presentation to the Council of Europe’s San Marino conference “The religious dimension of intercultural dialogue” with a massive written submission containing 40 specific recommendations. The paper was prepared in conjunction with the UK National Secular Society. It is also available in the original form, complete with contents and footnotes, as a PDF file for download below.

The International Humanist & Ethical Union

* Being of the opinion that all people should have the freedom to choose their own lifestyle and - regardless of their sexual orientation - are fundamentally equal and have equal rights:

* 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:

We, the members of the International Humanist & Ethical Union, gathered in Congress on the occasion of our fortieth anniversary, express deep concern at the progressive violation of human rights by the government of the republic of Poland. The latest drastic example of this process is the prospect of the adoption in Poland of the most restrictive anti-abortion law in Europe. Poland's Parliament, pressed by the Catholic Church, rejected both a more liberal version of the law and a call for a national referendum on the issue of abortion. According to the only version of the law now under discussion, a woman will be allowed to demand and obtain an abortion only if her pregnancy would lead her to death.

The International Humanist & Ethical Union, assembled at its 8th World Congress in Hanover, Federal Republic of Germany, August 1-5, 1982, is of the opinion that the continuously growing number of births is a fundamental cause for hunger and mass-suffering on earth.

World-wide birth control by means of immediate and effectual action is necessary to fight the hunger in this world. The unrestrained growth of the world population may be the end of mankind. In countries with a high birth rate more instruction, material encouragement and easily accessible methods of contraception are very necessary. This has to be pursued in spite of religious or ideological opposition.

H.E. The Prime Minister, Don Adolfo Suarez,
Palacio de la Monlcloa
Madrid, Spain

Your Excellency,

1978 is the year in which the United Nations is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the General Assembly, a body of which your country has been a member since December 1951. It is distressing to see that 30 years after the declaration some of these rights have not yet become part and parcel of the laws of all member states.

conception outside the womb

The IHEU welcomes the scientific breakthrough that now makes it possible for conception outside the womb (with implantation) thus permitting some infertile couples to have children.

Where a couple had been unable to conceive by normal means, this scientific discovery - like artificial insemination - can be of great value. Technology based on science thus can contribute to human happiness. This procedure, therefore, is justifiable on ethical grounds.

This spring the Vatican has started a campaign to propagate its viewpoint on birth control. Thus it takes an overt stand against the 1974 World Population year, proclaimed by the UN. According to The Times newspaper in London the Vatican resists all efforts to develop a system of world population control. It rejects contraceptives, sterilisation and abortion.

In view of this startling campaign I cannot but repeat the statement I gave at the Brussels meeting with the Vatican Secretariat for Unbelievers on October 1,2 and 3, 1970: "The official Catholic policy influences through Catholic political power to a high degree the policy of nations even if the Catholics represent a minority of the population.

When discussing common responsibilities in the present situation ethical humanists cannot refrain from bringing up the issue of birth-control. We know that a complex problem is involved. From a prosperity point of view population increase is necessary in certain areas.

The International Humanist & Ethical Union views with alarm the continuing increase in world population and recognises this as one of the most urgent problems facing mankind. Malnutrition, starvation, poverty, lack of medical and educational services, pollution of the environment, underdevelopment, conflict and war are already, and will continue to be aggravated by excessive numbers of people.

The IHEU, in working to build a world where each child born should have an environment in which it may grow to reach its full human potential, and realising the impossibility of this if present population trends continue, calls on international agencies, national governments, humanist organisations and people of goodwill everywhere to co-operate in order to limit population growth.

"Without Christ there is no true humanism" - The Pope - Urbi et Orbi (Osservatore Romano - January 1,1970)

It is almost amazing to notice again and again how seemingly well-educated men like the Pope abase themselves from time to time by expressing such statements as above. One would hardly believe the press agencies until one - at last - has got the official weekly edition in English of the Osservatore Romano. And, mark you, the Pope really said those things, apparently ignoring the aims and ideas of two thirds of mankind. And he adds: