Geneva, March 16, 2010 -- The Vatican’s record on child abuse was criticized today at the United Nations Human Rights Council. Highlighting the Vatican’s repeated and ongoing efforts to cover up evidence of child abuse by priests, the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) accused the Vatican of violating its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

One of IHEU's Dutch member organization, HIVOS (the Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation), is being targeted by the Islamic regime in Iran.

“Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains” (Jean-Jacques Rousseau). This is a fact: Freedom is not universally respected, even in western countries. All the governments – not only in so-called “Muslim” countries – that currently oppose human rights in the name of “cultural diversity” are also against any separation of religions and the state.

World Humanist Day is just around the corner. The Dutch humanist broadcasting service, HUMAN, and the broadcaster VPRO have worked together with the humanist NGO Hivos to create five short films in which humanism, as a practical, life-affirming philosophy takes centre stage. The films will be shown on Dutch national TV on Saturday June 20th and Sunday June 21st, and they are available on Youtube and here....

IHEU representative Cathy Buchs today [8 June 2009] defended Freedom of Expression during a general debate at the 11th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. IHEU applauded the report to the Council by UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Frank La Rue, in which he had advised the Council and the UN General Assembly to desist from further statements regarding defamation of religion. Video and the full text of the IHEU statement are available here.

On the 24th of November 2008, the UN passed a draft resolution against defaming religion. It was sponsored by the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). They want nations to pass legislation against blasphemy. At this point in time, it is optional for each member nation of the UN to adopt this resolution.

"Enough of these speeches - come, let's get some fresh air," Nettie urged, and dragged me out of the 1996 IHEU XIII World Humanist Congress being held in Mexico City.

IHEU regrets to report that Jeanette Klein-von Baumhauer, better known to IHEU as Nettie Klein, died on 29 June 2008 in Amsterdam. Nettie Klein was born in 1927 and had her first contact with international Humanism at the 1962 Oslo Congress. In 1966 she became Honorary (that is, volunteer) Organizing Secretary of IHEU, and from 1982 to 1996 she was General Secretary. In the 1990s she wrote 'Nettie's Column' in International Humanist News. In 1996, at the Mexico City Congress, Nettie Klein was presented with the International Humanist Award, for her long-standing merits for IHEU. Examples of her writing and other work are available on our web site.

IHEU vice president Rob Buitenweg has published "Human Rights, Human Plights in a Global Village".

IHEU is pleased to report on recent, very encouraging discussions with HIVOS as regards future cooperation in the light of IHEU’s new plans for Growth and Development.