In this issue, we have reports from the General Assembly and other conferences in London, including the First World Conference on Untouchability; reports, statements and videos from the UN in Geneva, where the Human Rights Council has been in session and IHEU's representatives have been much in evidence despite attempts to gag them; and lots more. There are 28 items in this month's update -- Ithink that's a record.
JUNE CONFERENCES
IHEU concludes General Assembly in London
IHEU's 2009 General Assembly of Member Organisations was held in London on 5th and 6th of June as part of a week of events, including a Conference to mark Darwin's anniversary year and a Global conference on Untouchability. The important news of the GA was that the proposed new IHEU Bylaws and Internal Rules were passed unanimously. This is a landmark for IHEU as one of the goals of making these changes is to give national Member Organisations from developing countries more influence at the General Assembly. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3548>
Global initiative against untouchability launched in London
The first "World Conference on Untouchability" concluded on 10 June with the launch of a global initiative against caste discrimination. The conference, organized in London by IHEU, brought together politicians, academics and grass roots leaders to share successful strategies to combat caste discrimination and help the nearly 250 million victims of Untouchability. The conference declaration, passed unanimously, proposes expanding successful grass roots programmes, improving national legislation, and strengthening UN enforcement mechanisms. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3546>
Superstition kills: new film premieres at World Conference on Untouchability
In a new 30-minute film, Swedish film maker Henrik Thome tracks IHEU's International Director Babu Gogineni as he and his colleagues visit a village in Andhra Pradesh state, where an independent minded Dalit woman was murdered on the pretext that she was a witch. After meeting the victim's family, they start an educational and media initiative in the region to bring the killers of Bhuvanagiri Somamma to justice. The team travels to the neighbouring Karnataka state where they join Prof. Narendra Nayak, President of the Federation of Indian Rationalists Associations, and rationalists from Tamil Nadu for some spectacular action. Watch this film, which premiered at the IHEU's World Conference on Untouchability in London on 10 June 2009, here. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3545>
BBC features IHEU World Conference on Untouchability
The BBC has reported on the First World Conference on Untouchability. The report quotes IHEU's Babu Gogineni: "There are Dalit politicians in India, but nothing has changed. The answer is to educate Dalits and empower them." Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3544>
Parliamentary questions precede first World Conference on Untouchability in London, June 9 & 10
The first "World Conference on Untouchability" has prompted questions in the House of Commons and the House of Lords about government policy towards the global human rights problem of caste discrimination, which afflicts almost 250 million people in countries from Japan to Nigeria. The questions were raised by Jeremy Corbyn MP and Lord Avebury. Both parliamentarians spoke at the conference. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3540>
Darwin, Humanism and Science
A full report on the "Darwin, Humanism and Science" conference held in London on 6 June 2009 has been posted by blogger Edward Spencer. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3539>
Humanists award Richard Dawkins for promoting reason and science across the world
Richard Dawkins, evolutionary biologist and internationally renowned atheist, sceptic and humanist received an award for his 'work in promoting reason and science worldwide' on 6th June during an international gathering of humanist organisations from all over the world. The award was given by the British Humanist Association and IHEU following a conference during the day on 'Darwin, Humanism and Science', at which Professor Dawkins was a key speaker. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3538>
IHEU Bylaws
The General Assembly (GA) in London in June 2009 adopted new Bylaws for the organization. The need for revision of some parts of the IHEU Bylaws had been apparent for some time, and at the GA in 2007 it was decided to prepare a major revision in time for the GA in 2009. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3564>
IHEU SPEAKS OUT (MOST OF THE TIME) AT THE UN
IHEU questions Chinese membership of UN Human Rights Council
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. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3660>
UN adopts resolution on preventable maternal mortality
The UN Human Rights Council has adopted a resolution on Preventable Maternal Mortality. The text, and the speech given by Anthony Grayling on behalf of IHEU in support of this resolution, are available on the web site. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3659>
UN begins to move on caste discrimination
Caste discrimination "clealy falls within my mandate" claimed the newly-appointed UN Special Rapporteur on Racism Mr Mugai, speaking on 16 June 2009 at the end of a short debate on his first report to the Human Rights Council. One week after the landmark conference on untouchability held in London under the auspices of IHEU, an official of the Human Rights Council has finally taken this issue on board.(video added) Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3658>
IHEU challenges the view that "defamation of religion" is a form of racism
On 16 June, during the general debate on racism at the Human Rights Council, the Pakistani delegate Muhammad Saeed Sarwar, speaking on behalf of the Islamic States, claimed that the defamation of Islam under the guise of freedom of expression is a new and contemporary form of discrimination, intolerance and xenophobia. When the adjourned debate continued on the morning of 17 June, Roy Brown responded on behalf of IHEU: Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3657>
IHEU denied the right to speak on Sudan
In a travesty of democratic debate, only six non-governmental organizations were allowed to speak in the debate on the Sudan at the Human Rights Council on 16 June, and the first three selected to speak were organizations funded by the government of Sudan. Despite having registered to speak when the list had opened on 2nd June, IHEU were pre-empted by the apologists for the Sudanese Government under a UN rule giving preference to NGOs "not represented" in Geneva. Read what we would have said: Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3656>
A.C. Grayling speaks for IHEU at UN Human Rights Council
In a speech to the Human Rights Council on 16 June on behalf of IHEU, Professor Anthony Grayling called upon the international community to give far greater attention to the 1,500 maternity-related deaths that occur every day - the vast majority of them preventable. "We believe that wider recognition that this is indeed a human rights issue will provide additional momentum to efforts to reduce this appalling death toll." (pictures added) Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3565>
IHEU criticizes Chinese record on human rights
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. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3563>
IHEU defends freedom of expression at the UN Human Rights Council
IHEU representative Cathy Buchs 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. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3541>
AND MUCH MORE...
Gay & Lesbian Humanist June 2009 out now
George Broadhead writes: The latest issue of G&LH is now available free at http://www.gayandlesbianhumanist.org Read more
<http://www.iheu.org/node/3666>
Terry Pratchett OBE speaks to British Humanist Association about assisted dying, ahead of potential reforms to the law
Speaking exclusively to the British Humanist Association (BHA), award-winning author and BHA Distinguished Support Terry Pratchett OBE discusses his views on why it is ethical to allow people to be able to choose to have assisted death, 'when medicine cannot do any more'. Mr Pratchett recorded his thoughts on film for the BHA, ahead of a vote in the House of Lords on part of the law on assisted dying which, if passed, would remove the threat of prosecution of friends and relatives who those who compassionately accompany terminally ill loved ones abroad to die in a country where assisted dying is legal. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3665>
IHEU meets European Union leaders
European Commission President Manuel Barroso and President of the European Parliament Hans Gert Po"ttering hosted a lunch in Brussels on Friday 26 June 2009 with philosophical non-confessional organizations in the Commission's efforts towards strengthening European values. IHEU representative Keith Porteous Wood was among the guests. Porteous Wood spoke of the worrying trends prevalent at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. His greatest concern was the undermining of Universal Human Rights by the Cairo Declaration of Human Rights in Islam being strongly promoted by the Islamic states. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3664>
IHEU calls on President of Lithuania to stop gay education ban
IHEU president, Sonja Eggerickx, has urged the president of the Republic of Lithuania, Valdas Adamkus, to refuse to sign a law that would ban information on homosexuality from schools. Update: the deadline for signing has passed and the bill did not become law [27June 2009]. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3663>
The battle of Conway Hall
New Humanist reports that hardline Islamists were ejected from the home of British Humanism on Wednesday night [17 June 2009]. The planned "debate" on Sharia law at Conway Hall in London was in fact, according to The Guardian, an attempt to relaunch the extreme Islamist group Al-Muhajiroun. Conway Hall is the historic home of British secularism, Humanism and freethought, and was where IHEU held its General Assembly and the First World Conference on Untouchability earlier this month. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3661>
World Humanist Day -- 21 June
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.... Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3562>
Swedish Humanists: God probably doesn't exist...
IHEU member organization Swedish Humanist Association has launched a major advertising campaign with an eye-catching take on the Swedish flag and the slogan "God probably doesn't exist". We have pictures. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3561>
IHEYO Youthspeak - June 2009
IHEYO's newsletter Youthspeak has been published. The new edition includes: A thought for the Untouchables; Speaking Out: Can we help it?; Thanks to Victor Kay, IHEU is $2.5million richer!; Homophobic Mayor popularizes Russian Gay Campaign; Nigerian Sharia Council Condemns Move On Death Penalty; Suspected abortion provider killer jailed; Peru set to ban gay police officers. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3550>
IHEU International Representative on BBC World Service
The BBC World Service has interviewed Leo Igwe, IHEU's International Representative for West Africa, on its popular radio programme Weekend Network. We have a link to a recording of the interview. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3549>
May 2009 IHN published
The May 2009 issue of International Humanist News has been published. This edition includes features on Humanist ceremonies; and Democracy versus Theocracy. We have a PDF version with full layout and pictures (now in new easy-reader format) and back numbers from the last 15 years available. The full text is also available. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3508>
IHEU and NSS propose work programme to European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
In a remarkable document, IHEU and its member organization the National Secular Society have proposed a wide-ranging list of modern-day human rights issues for the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) in 2010. IHEU and NSS have proposed specific actions in three main focus areas: religious, race and cultural practices; the rights of children; and disadvantage to the non-religious. The full document is available for download. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3537>
Media zero to media hero -- IHEU free webinar now available online, on demand
IHEU's popular free webinar for Humanist leaders on how the media works and how to work the media is now available on this web site as a streamed Internet recording, including both the visual materials and the interactive soundtrack. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3512>
--
International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) is the world umbrella organisation for Humanist, ethical culture, rationalist, secularist and freethought groups. Based in London, it is an international NGO with Special Consultative Status with the UN (New York, Geneva, Vienna), General Consultative Status at UNICEF (New York) and the Council of Europe (Strasbourg), and it maintains operational relations with UNESCO (Paris).
Its mission is to build and represent the global Humanist movement, to defend human rights and to promote Humanist values world-wide. IHEU sponsors the triennial World Humanist Congress.
You can find out more about IHEU on our web site <http://www.iheu.org>
Fwd by
John Willemsens,
Advayavada Foundation.
<http://www.euronet.nl/~advaya/index.htm>
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