The International Humanist and Ethical Union has joined with its member organization One Law for All to hold a Rally for Free Expression in London on 11 February. The rally was organized to respond to the recent spate of attacks on free speech in the UK, including threats and censorship directed at Humanist student groups at the University of London (see IHEU stories at  http://www.iheu.org/humanists-condemn-another-attack-atheist-expression-london-university and at http://www.iheu.org/threats-violence-force-cancellation-university-talk-sharia-law).

An excellent opportunity for an experienced Communications Officer has arisen within the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), the world union of Humanist and other non-religious organizations.

On the last weekend of May 2012 the Humanistisch Verbond (Humanist Association, Netherlands) will host the annual EHF conference and General Assembly in Utrecht. The Humanist Association will be working closely with the Dutch Humanist Alliance of humanist organisations in the Netherlands and the European Humanist Professionals (EHP).

There are many different ways to celebrate World Humanist Day. And every year Humanists devise new activities for World Humanist Day and create new ways to promote them. Below are some examples used by Humanist groups around the world:

World Humanist Day originated in the 1980s, when several local state chapters of the American Humanist Association (AHA) began celebrating World Humanist Day.

World Humanist Day is celebrated every year on June 21. It is an opportunity for Humanist individuals and organizations to publicize the positive values of Humanism and to share the global concerns of the Humanist movement.

Founded in the same year as UNESCO, by Julian Huxley and Bertrand Russell, the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) wishes to reaffirm its commitment to the goals of UNESCO. IHEU welcomes the outline of the resolutions adopted and notably the sustained efforts towards universal literacy, to defend and conserve natural landscapes and cultural heritage, education, the sciences, culture, communication and the freedom of expression of information".

The Humanist Movement in Sweden and the International Humanist community call upon the Swedish authorities to reopen the case of Khalid Saeed from Pakistan, whose application for a residence permit in Sweden has been rejected by the Migration Board. He could now be sent back to Pakistan with his entire family.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) is calling for Sweden to provide asylum to Khalid Saeed, a Pakistani atheist and apostate from Islam who fled his homeland to live in Sweden.  Khalid’s initial request for asylum was rejected by Swedish authorities because they did not accept that his outspoken atheism had made it unsafe for him and his family in Pakistan.