International Humanist and Ethical Union

International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) is the sole world umbrella organisation embracing Humanist, atheist, rationalist, secular, skeptic, Ethical Culture, freethought and similar organisations worldwide. Founded in Amsterdam in 1952, IHEU is a democratic union of more than 100 member organizations in 40 countries. Julian Huxley (the first director of UNESCO), presided over the founding Congress of the IHEU.
The IHEU's vision is one of a Humanist world; a world in which the human rights of minorities are respected and everyone is able to live a life of dignity. The mission of IHEU is to build and represent the global Humanist movement that defends human rights and promotes Humanist values worldwide. IHEU sponsors the triennial World Humanist Congress and publishes International Humanist News.
In 2002 the IHEU General Assembly unanimously adopted the Amsterdam Declaration 2002 which represents the official defining statement of World Humanism. The Happy Human is the official symbol of IHEU.
==Minimum Statement==
All member organisations of the International Humanist and Ethical Union are required by IHEU bylaw 5.1 to accept the IHEU Minimum Statement on Humanism:
Humanism is a democratic and ethical life stance, which affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. It stands for the building of a more humane society through an ethic based on human and other natural values in the spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities. It is not theistic, and it does not accept supernatural views of reality.
== Strategic aims ==
The long term strategic aims of IHEU are:
* To promote Humanism as a non-theistic life stance throughout the world.
* To represent Humanism within the international community and organisations.
* To defend human rights and the rights of Humanists.
* To develop organised Humanism in every part of the world.
* To build a strong and effective global organisation.
== Strategy ==
IHEU will:
* promote the identity of Humanism including the name and symbol of Humanism
* promote the Amsterdam Declaration 2002 on Humanism
* promote Freedom of religion and belief
* focus on achieving separation of religion and state throughout the world
* focus on activities that can only be undertaken by a global organisation
* work closely with many member organisations
* support members in their campaigns and activities
* bring members together at conferences and in regional groups
* help establish the International Humanist and Ethical Youth Organisation as the world Humanist youth organisation
* use strategic alliances to pursue its aims
== Activities ==
Based in London, IHEU is an international NGO with Special Consultative Status with the United Nations, General Consultative Status at the Council of Europe, Observer Status with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and maintains operational relations with UNESCO.
Core IHEU activities are:
# International conferences: to bring Humanists together and inspire them
# Campaigns: to promote and defend human rights and Humanist values
# Representation at international and regional bodies: to further Humanist goals
# Growth and Development: to support Humanist groups in developing countries
# Organisational Development: developing the youth movement, a women's network, membership and support
The IHEU and Amnesty International led the campaign to try to obtain the release of Younus Shaikh.
==IHEU chairmen and presidents==
Years 	Position 	Holder(s) 	Holder(s) 	Holder(s) 	
1952-1975	Chairman 	Jaap van Praag 	  	  	 
1975-1979	Chairman troika	Piet Thones 	Mihailo Marković 	Howard B. Radest	
1979-1985	Chairman troika	Bert Schwarz 	Mihailo Marković 	Howard B. Radest	
1985-1986	Chairman troika	Bert Schwarz 	Svetozar Stojanović	Howard B. Radest	
1986-1987	Chairman troika	Rob Tielman 	Svetozar Stojanović	Paul Kurtz 	
1987-1990	Chairman troika	Rob Tielman 	Levi Fragell 	Paul Kurtz 	
1990-1993	Chairman troika	Rob Tielman 	Kari Vigeland 	Paul Kurtz 	
1993-1994	Chairman troika	Rob Tielman 	Jane Wynne Willson 	Paul Kurtz 	
1994-1995	Chairman troika	Rob Tielman 	Jane Wynne Willson 	  	
1995-1996	Chairman troika	Rob Tielman 	Jane Wynne Willson 	Vern Bullough 	
1996-1998	President 	Rob Tielman 	  	  	
1998-2003	President 	Levi Fragell 	  	  	
2003-2006	President 	Roy W Brown 	  	  	
2006- 	President 	Sonja Eggerickx	  	  	
==IHEU Awards==
===International Humanist Award===
*1970: Barry Commoner (USA), environmentalist professor
*1974: Harold John Blackham (UK), founding member IHEU, IHEU secretary (1952-1966)
*1978: Vithal Mahadeo Tarkunde (India), a former judge of the Bombay High Court
*1982: Kurt Partzsch (Germany), a former Minister for Social Affairs 
*1986: Arnold Clausse (Belgium), a professor emeritus of education
*1986: The Atheist Centre (India)
*1988: Andrei Sakharov (USSR), atom scientist and winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace
*1990: Alexander Dubcek (Czechoslovakia), leader of the Czechoslovakia during the "Prague Spring" of 1968
*1992: Pieter Admiraal (Netherlands), a Dutch anaesthetist, and euthanasia advocate
*1999: Professor Paul Kurtz (USA), a distinguished Humanist
*2002: Amartya Sen (India), Master of Trinity College (Cambridge), and winner of the 1998 The Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel
*2005: Jean-Claude Pecker (France), a distinguished astronomer
*2008: Philip Pullman (UK), best-selling author of children's literature, including "His Dark Materials" trilogy
===Distinguished Service to Humanism Award===
*1998: Corliss Lamont; Indumati Parikh; Mathilde Krim
*1990: Jean Jacques Amy
*1992: Indumati Parikh; Vern Bullough; Nettie Klein {also volunteer IHEU secretary general (1982-1996)
*1996: Jim Herrick; James Dilloway
*1999: Abe Solomon; Paul Postma
*2002: Phil Ward
*2005: Barbara Smoker; Marius Dées de Stério
*2007: Keith Porteous Wood
*2008: Roy Brown
===Other Awards===
*1978: Special Award for Service to World Humanism: Harold John Blackham; Jaap van Praag; Sidney Scheuer {also IHEU treasurer (1952-1987)}
*1988: Humanist Laureate Award: Betty Friedan; Herbert Hauptman; Steve Allen
*1988: Humanist of the Year Award: Henry Morgenthaler
*1992: Distinguished Human Rights Award: Elena Bonner
*1996: Humanist Awards: Shulamit Aloni; Taslima Nasrin; Xiao Xuehui
*2009: For work promoting reason and science worldwide (with the British Humanist Association): Richard Dawkins
==International Law==
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights endorses international human rights for Freedom of Religion and Belief. 
In international law the freedom of religion and belief is also protected by 
Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). This protection extends to those professing belief in no religion which includes agnostic, atheist, Humanist, and rationalist.
Also relevant are the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CROC), the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief (Religion Declaration) and the International Labour Organisation Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention 1958.
==Membership==
To date almost 5 million people are members of the Union.
==References==
*Human Rights Brief No. 3 Assessment of international law pertaining to freedom of religion and belief from Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.
*IHEU listing of all member organisations
*IHEU Officials
*IHEU Presidents
*IHEU Awards
==Footnotes==
==External links==
*The IHEU web site
Category:Christian interfaith and secular relations
Category:Religion-related awards
Category:Freethought organizations
Category:Humanist associations
Category:Secularism organizations
Category:Organizations established in 1952
Category:Ethics organizations
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