The National Secular Society (an IHEU member organization in the UK) has announced a large-scale campaign of protest against the state visit of the Pope to Britain in September.

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.

In a statement to the UN Human Rights Council, endorsed by IHEU, World Population Foundation representative Diana Brown called on the Council to defend the human rights of all and not to attempt to defend religions against the human rights of people.

IHEU's president Roy Brown spoke at the UN Commission on Human Rights on 7 April on behalf of Representative Michele Vincent.

INTERNATIONAL HUMANIST AND ETHICAL UNION
UNION INTERNATIONALE HUMANISTE ET LAIQUE

Statement by Representative Michele VINCENT, Thursday 7 April 2005
Read for her by Main Representative, Roy Brown

The International Humanist & Ethical Union

* Noting that the United Nations in its charter declares the dignity and worth of the human person and the equal rights of men and women;

The IHEU considers that continued expansion of the world's population will lead to famine, to destruction of the environment on an unimaginable scale and eventually to war.

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.