Citizenship as a daily practice
How can European citizens overcome indifference?

On the last weekend of May 201,2 the Humanistisch Verbond (Humanist Association, Netherlands) will host the annual -->

At the World Humanist Congress, held every three years, the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) gives awards for outstanding service to Humanism. At the August 2011 Congress in Oslo, IHEU gave awards to activists and leaders from India, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA.

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.