Ethical Union (IHEU). You can find the full versions of these news
stories on our web site <http://www.iheu.org>
UN Celebrates 60 years of Human Rights: a personal view
Roy Brown writes: I attended the celebration to mark the 60th
anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the Palais
des Nations in Geneva expecting to be appalled in equal measure by the
extravagance of the surroundings and the hypocrisy of the speeches,
but I left both moved and inspired. Read more
<http://www.iheu.org/node/3359>
Pope paranoid about homosexuality says gay Humanist charity
The UK-based gay Humanist charity the Pink Triangle Trust has
described the Pope's latest homophobic outburst as clear evidence of
paranoia. The PTT was reacting to the Pope's Christmas message, in
which he declared that saving humanity from homosexual behaviour was
as important as saving the rainforest from destruction. Read more
<http://www.iheu.org/node/3368>
One Law for All petition launched
The One Law for All campaign, which is seeking legislation to curb
the influence of sharia law in Britain, has launched a petition and is
seeking as many signatures as possible in favour of its campaign. Over
2,000 signatures have already been registered. Read more
<http://www.iheu.org/node/3365>
Web site technical updates completed
We have made some technical changes to the IHEU web site. If you
notice any problems with the site, we would appreciate your telling us
via email . You can now add comments to most pages and there is a new
"Send to a friend" feature at the foot of each page. Read more
<http://www.iheu.org/node/3364>
IHEU welcomes international support for Freedom of Expression
On Human Rights Day, 10 December 2008, four of the world's leading
experts on freedom of expression issued a joint declaration on the
dangers posed to that freedom by UN resolutions combating defamation
of religion, and by national anti-terrorism and anti-extremism
legislation. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3361>
IHEU: representing Humanism at UNESCO
Since September 2007, a new IHEU delegation has been in place to
represent Humanism at UNESCO in Paris. In a new report, Sam Ayache,
head of IHEU's delegation to UNESCO, reports on their progress
against the odds. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3360>
Humanists unravel a crime in rural India
Babu Gogineni writes: Burnt houses. Abandoned homes. Dead cattle.
Terrified villagers. Ruined lives. Perplexed administration.
Opportunistic politicians. This was what our team of six Humanists and
Rationalists encountered in Morampally village in Chittoor district in
Andhra Pradesh state in South India. Read more
<http://www.iheu.org/node/3367>
IHEU joins urgent appeal to UN on plight of Iraqi Christians
On Human Rights Day, 10 December 2008, in collaboration with two
other NGOs, IHEU issued an urgent appeal to the High Commissioner for
Human Rights, Navi Pillay on behalf of Iraq's rapidly-disappearing
Christian population. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3358>
Nobel laureates condemn non-democratic countries for human rights
abuses
An audience of nearly 1000 - diplomats, NGO representatives,
academics and students - descended on the General Assembly Hall at the
Palais des Nations in Geneva on Wednesday to celebrate Human Rights
Day, the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights. Highlight of the afternoon were two presentations by
Nobel laureates: Shirin Ebadi, Iranian Human Rights Lawyer and winner
of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize, and Wole Soyinka, winner of the Nobel
Prize for Literature. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3357>
IHEYO Youthspeak - December 2008
In its December issue, IHEYO's Youthspeak has features on Human
Rights Day, Kofi Annan, Human Rights violations, the Carl von
Ossietzky Medal, Youth Action Nepal, the UDHR at 60 and Taslima
Nasrin. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3346>
Launch of "One Law for All" Campaign against Sharia law in Britain
The One Law for All campaign, which is seeking legislation to curb
the influence of sharia law in Britain, was launched at the House of
Lords on International Human Rights Day, December 10, 2008. Read more
<http://www.iheu.org/node/3355>
IHEU reports on HUMAN, Nepal
The Executive Committee regrets to report that its routine reporting
process on grants made to member organizations and others has led to
concerns relating to funding given by IHEU to its member organization
Humanist Association of Nepal (HUMAN). Read more
<http://www.iheu.org/node/3371>
Organization of the Islamic Conference calls on media to suppress the
truth
On 2 December 2008, the General Secretariat of the OIC released a
statement that is utterly breathtaking in its duplicity. The statement
is entitled "Islam, the Religion of peace, tolerance and compassion.
It begins: "With the multiplicity of terrorist attacks perpetrated
recently by deviant and fanatic individuals, the General Secretariat
of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has noticed a
tendency of a section of the media, to interpose the word 'Islam' in
reporting these incidences." Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3363>
Human rights victory for Ugandan LGBTs
"Justice has come in Uganda! The shouts of excitement and tears of
joy from African transgender, lesbian, and gay Human Rights Defenders
can still be felt from the court room and all around the continent. On
22 December 2008, the High Court of Uganda ruled on Victor Mukasa and
Oyoo's case, declaring that Ugandan constitutional rights apply to
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT/Kuchu) people regardless
of whether they are homosexual or transgender. Read more
<http://www.iheu.org/node/3369>
New Report: 'Human Rights in Crisis' on 60th Anniversary of Universal
Declaration
UN Watch has released a damning report on the Human Rights Council,
"Human Rights in Crisis". The report gives a factual analysis of the
activities of the Human Rights Council since it was created in 2006 to
replace the Human Rights Commission, which was routinely criticized
for its selectivity and politicisation. Regrettably, with few
exceptions, the Council's performance has been even worse. Read more
<http://www.iheu.org/node/3356>
IHEU Bylaws revision
As agreed at the 2008 General Assembly, draft new IHEU Bylaws are now
available for IHEU Member Organizations to evaluate. Read more
<http://www.iheu.org/node/3353>
Fwd by
John Willemsens,
Advayavada Foundation.
<http://www.euronet.nl/~advaya/index.htm>
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