The plight of the Dalits

IHEU has announced the recipients of its latest funding round in partnership with HIVOS.

In June 2006, IHEU was awarded a three year “block grant” of €225,000 from HIVOS for the purpose of funding projects in the developing world. The grant covers the years 2006, 2007 and 2008. IHEU then invited grant proposals through this web site, International Humanist News and by word of mouth. The grants were decided on the basis of IHEU's published grant criteria.

IHEU was among the organisations represented at the 42nd session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights(ACHPR) held from November 14th to 30th at Palais du Parlement in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. This session was organised to mark the 20th anniversary of the Commission.

An illustrated version of this article is available here.

The Ugandan Humanists (UHASSO) have developed a range of projects to benefit local communities – each a demonstration of Humanism in action.

A rock band in Pretoria, South Africa, is rocking the pious with a concert calling for "freedom from religion" (the National Secular Society reports). The 777 Rock Against Religion show, featuring seven of South Africa's "most outspoken rock and metal" acts is organised by local trio Architecture Of Aggression. It has already angered some Christians who have made their voices heard on the band's website. Brothers Anton and Van Alberts and William Bishop say the concert would be a "a peaceful protest against the injustices caused in the name of religion against people of different faiths or the non-religious. Anton said: "We want to bring to people's attention all the atrocities committed in the name of religion."

Hunger and starvation deaths have been stalking the marginalised communities in the eastern parts of India's most populous state Uttar-Pradesh for the last ten years. Every year people in the region die from Malaria and Japanese Encephalitis (brain fever); they have severe health problems because of severe nutritional deficiency and non existent health care.

“Women must be seen as the agents of change rather than the objects of change” Amartya Sen.

When I first met the late Dr Indumati Parikh in January 1999 while attending the 14th World Humanist Congress in Mumbai, I could not believe that here was a woman who for 35 years had been putting into practice what was only then coming to be recognised by the international development community as the leading development paradigm: integrated health care, education, and women’s empowerment. The women’s self-help organisation that Dr Parikh founded, Streehitakarini, is still going strong.

A few years ago, IHEU established a ‘twinning’ programme where member groups were encouraged to establish partnerships with groups outside their own country. The aim of the ‘twinning’ programme was to expand co-operation between member organisations, and to make available advice and assistance in setting up practical projects to groups that needed it.

In June 2006, IHEU was awarded a three year “block grant” of €225,000 from HIVOS for the purpose of funding projects in the developing world. The grant covers the years 2006, 2007 and 2008. IHEU then invited grant proposals through this web site, International Humanist News and by word of mouth.