The conditions in the biosphere, with its extremely thin skin around the Earth, have changed in geological times, allowing different forms of life and exterminating some of these forms is later periods.

Humans must avoid being themselves the cause of alterations in conditions in the biosphere that will make present forms of life impossible.

Humanists accept the full responsibility for their own life style and the influence they have on their environment, including fellow humans and other forms of life, now and for the future.

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 and the European Humanist Federation strongly condemn the ruling of the Dublin High Court on 17th February granting an injunction to prevent a pregnant 14 year old rape victim from travelling to another country to obtain an abortion. We strongly urge the Irish Supreme court to squash the injunction.

Humanists value individual liberty, the right to self-determination, and the human rights which flow from these principles, as indispensable to the quality of life and to a democratic society.

The Board of Directors of the International Humanist & Ethical Union which represents member organisations in thirty three countries passed the following resolution in its meeting at Amsterdam on August 8, 1974:

Whereas Dr. Henry Morgentaler, a Montreal physician and member of the board of the International Humanist & Ethical Union was acquitted on a charge of performing an illegal abortion on November 13, 1973 by a twelve member French speaking jury,

Right Hon. Prime Minister
House of Commons, Parliamentary Buildings
Ottawa/Ont., Canada

Object to second trial Henry Morgentaler (Montreal) in same abortion case after jury verdict "not guilty". Call upon you on behalf of International Humanist & Ethical Union for safeguarding human rights and legal security.

Telegram from Prof. Dr. J.P. van Praag, IHEU Chairman 5.6.1974

The Executive Committee of the International Humanist & Ethical Union at the annual meeting in Antwerp, Belgium, strongly supports the efforts of Dr Willy Peers of Namur for abortion law reform in Belgium.

We urge that all charges against competent medical workers practising abortion be dropped and that all restrictive abortion laws be rescinded.

We are committed to the sanctity of life and the worth and dignity of every person and therefore believe in the right of every woman to choose abortion under medical control, if she so desires.

The Executive Committee of the International Humanist & Ethical Union at the annual meeting in Antwerp, Belgium, strongly supports the efforts of Dr Henry Morgantaler of Montreal, for abortion law reform in Canada. We urge that all charges against Dr. Morgantaler be dropped and that all restrictive abortion laws be rescinded.

We are committed to the sanctity of life and the worth and dignity of every person and therefore believe in the right of every woman to choose abortion, if she so desires.

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.