Humanists International

Description

Humanists International is the global representative body of the humanist movement, championing secularism and human rights.

It was founded in Amsterdam in 1952, when five national humanist and ethical organizations held an inaugural congress and adopted the Amsterdam Declaration. It was originally known as the International Humanist and Ethical Union and took its current name in 2019. Its members and associates are humanist, rationalist, secular, ethical culture, atheist and freethought organizations from around the world, alongside individual supporters.

The organization campaigns on humanist issues, defends humanists at risk of persecution and violence, and lobbies international institutions such as the United Nations on humanist values and the rights of the non-religious. It challenges blasphemy and apostasy laws, publishes an annual report indexing countries by their treatment of the non-religious, and coordinates support for people fleeing persecution because of their beliefs. It also takes humanist positions on bioethics, sexual and reproductive rights, LGBT rights, children’s rights and women’s rights, and works to build humanist organizations around the world.

Its policy making body is a General Assembly of member organizations and Sections, held in a different country each year, and it convenes a World Humanist Congress roughly every three years. It is governed by an elected Board and operates through entities registered in the United States and the United Kingdom. It has a wing for younger members called Young Humanists International.