Immediately after World War II, people recoiled from the horrible experiences they had undergone. There was a general feeling that everything possible must be done to prevent a similar disaster from happening again. It was at this time that the United Nations was organised. No more war; conflicts would be solved by discussion rather than by fighting.

For the past eleven years the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), representing the 57 Islamic States, has been tightening its grip on the throat of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On 28 March 2008 they finally killed it.

Joint written statement submitted by the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), a non-governmental organization in special consultative status, the Association for World Education (AWE) and the Association of World Citizens (AWC), non-governmental organizations on the Roster.

On March 29, I scanned all the Indian newspapers to see if the amendment in the UN Human Rights Council to the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression got any mention. It was an idle hope. There was nothing.

Does the UN effectively promote international security, peace and wellbeing worldwide? The UN is a repository of our hopes. It reflects and embodies the highest ideals. At the same time it also embodies and reflects the realities of international politics.

Dalits are the people formerly known as untouchables. They have been historically excluded from human society, and were deprived of the most basic opportunities. This discrimination affects every aspect of life: health, housing, education, work, marriage, social interaction. For most Dalits, there is no opportunity to escape from caste-imposed discrimination.

Working with the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief is an important aspect of IHEU’s work at the International institutions. The Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief is an independent expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council.

(This is an edited version of the report on secularism in India submitted to Special Rapporteur Asma Jahangir. For the complete report visit www.iheu.org – Ed.)

India, a Secular State

Terry Sanderson, the President of the National Secular Society and Vice President Anna Behan joined representatives of the British Humanist Association and activists from Scotland, Wales and Derbyshire in a meeting with Asma Jahangir, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief.

This is an edited version of the 2008 M.V. Ramamurthy Memorial Humanist Lecture organised by the Malladi Subbamma Foundation in cooperation with IHEU’s Babu Gogineni. It was held in February at the Telugu University in Andhra Pradesh. Attended this year by the Vice Chancellor of Telugu University Dr.