This Congress supports the general principle of Reconciliation with the indigenous peoples of this country and deplores the Federal Government's inability to say "sorry" with respect to the stolen generation.

This Congress urges the federal Government to provide funding to appoint an Aboriginal curator for Aboriginal Art at the Australian National Gallery.

IHEU Regional Congress, Australia,

The Hon Mary Robinson, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10

Dear High Commissioner

On behalf of the 87 member organisations of the International Humanist and Ethical Union, an International NGO in Special Consultative status with the United Nations, I extend our whole hearted support to your untiring efforts in organising the forthcoming World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (South Africa, 31 August - 7 September 2001).

Humanism requires that nowhere in the world will people be discriminated on the basis of colour, creed, language or religion. But in India the basis of 'varna-jati' system sanctioned by scriptures the majority of the people are condemned as Panchamas. This is the caste system, which is iniquitous and unjust. So it is an obstacle to promoting Humanist development and happiness.

In the wake of great political upheavals in Europe, as well as overpopulation and oppression in many countries in the third world, the number of refugees and emigrants, immigrants is growing fast, and - as a consequence - ethnic conflicts are intensifying. An unsound type of nationalism, as well as religious fundamentalism and cultural chauvinism, heightens the tension, and we experience an increase of wars and violence. Some ethnic groups will regard themselves as superior to others, and consequently entitled to suppress and exterminate other groups. The resulting fight for political, economical, and territorial privileges will lead to an increasing tendency towards racism.

Referring to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
Referring to international law and more particularly to the two Covenants: on Civil and Political Rights, and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights:
Referring to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination;
Referring to the UNESCO Convention on Discrimination in Education;

The International Humanist and Ethical Union deplores the intense inter-communal hatred and warfare that have been unleashed in the former states of Yugoslavia. We grieve at the senseless violence and bloodshed and the murder, rape and pillage of helpless women, men and children.

We wish to point out that much of the destructive hatred among Serbs, Croats and Bosnians has its roots in religious chauvinism, as three major faiths -- Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Islam -- vie for hegemony and power. Unfortunately, the mass media have not made it clear that religious animosities as well as nationalistic and ethnic passions are responsible for much of the hatred and that in the name of religious tradition, people often feel justified in murdering others. Many of these same people are now at war with each other had been living together in peace and harmony only a few short years ago. Yest when religious dogma and creed separate them they are prone to narrowly define individuals in terms of religious criteria.

This congress calls on the leaders and peoples of the states formerly known as Yugoslavia to cease their active hostilities and seek to resolve their religious and nationalistic differences through peaceful political means.

Cultural and ethnic diversity is a source of strength within society when differences are mediated by political processes. Such diversity and process are characteristic of the European democratic state. Alternative means of resolving conflict are unworkable, unacceptable, and impoverishing to the richness of society.

1. Women's rights are human issues, affecting all society, both women and men, in all areas of community life: equality in education, in job opportunities, in decision making, in access to councils and boards.

2. The right to reproductive freedom and to access to all birth control methods should be recognised as a fundamental human right, and not as a privilege conferred by and regulated by the state. The choice to have a safe abortion should be a legal right of all women and should not be restricted by religious or social conditions or by regressive laws.

The 67th Meeting of Non-Governmental Organisations holding consultative status with the Council of Europe and interested in human rights, present in Strasbourg on October 1990:

1. Having read the "Memorandum on Recent Developments in Law Affecting the Human Rights of Homosexual Women and Men" introduced by the International Humanist & Ethical Union on September 28 1989;

2. Convinced that the fight against all forms of discrimination is of vital importance for the maintenance and further realisation of human rights in the member states of the Council of Europe;

The International Humanist & Ethical Union:

* Being of the opinion that all people should have the freedom to choose their own life style and that all people - regardless of their sexual preference - are fundamentally equal and have equal rights to a human existence;

* 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 and discrimination;