[Subtitled video now available] In a speech to the 12th session of the Human Rights Council on 16 September, IHEU representative Roy Brown called on the Council to do more to combat violence and discrimination against religious minorities, citing the recent murders of Christians in Pakistan, Somalia and Nigeria, the still unresolved massacre of Muslims in Gujerat, and mob violence against the Muslim Uighurs in China earlier this year. He also criticized non-violent discrimination practiced in many Western countries against religious minorities. He reminded delegates that it is individuals, believers and non-believers that have human rights - not their religions or beliefs.

20 years after Tiananmen Square, IHEU has criticized China's human rights record and urged the international community to consider again the criteria for membership of the Council. The strong criticism was voiced in a written statement to the June 2009 11th Session of the UN Human Rights Council.

IHEU has criticized China's human rights record at the UN Human Rights Council, meeting in Geneva. Particular points mentioned were China's interpretation of human rights concepts, freedom of expression, capital punishment and freedom of the press. We have a video and the full text of the statement available.

The Chinese delegation to the Human Rights Council succeeded in blocking all criticism of their actions in Tibet by invoking a series of 12 points of order during statements by the United States, Switzerland and Slovenia (for the European Union) while several states including Zimbabwe, Cuba and Pakistan raised points of order in favour of China. As the general debate degenerated, point of order followed point of order until the Chairman, Ambassador Costea of Romania called for a 10 minute adjournment to allow tempers to cool.

Whereas, the International Humanist and Ethical Union affirms the worth and dignity of every human being and has, through past resolutions expressed its opposition to all cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, and

Whereas, the continuation of the death penalty on the statute books is in dissonance with the right to life recognised by Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and

The Persecution of Xiao Xuehui

THE IHEU is starting a campaign to help a humanist who is being persecuted by the Chinese government.

Whereas students and workers of the People's Republic of China were engaged in a peaceful demonstration, and,
Whereas the demonstrators were dispersed by force and violence, and
Whereas some demonstrators have been executed, and
Whereas the Chinese government has further restricted freedom of expression and other basic freedoms,

Therefore, be it resolved that the Board of the IHEU officially condemns the action of the government of the People's Republic of China for their use of force and violence to repress essentially non-violent demonstrations, and