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83-725: Founded in 1956, the HEF is a member of the Humanists International (HI). The Norwegian Humanist Association is an organisation for people who base their ethics on human, not religious values. Most of its members are agnostics or atheists. HEF supports the following statement of the IHEU: Former HEF secretary general, Levi Fragell , was president of the IHEU (1988–2003) and later Chair of IHEU's Committee for Growth and Development. Since September 2021, Christian Lomsdalen

166-589: A Canadian-American retired stage magician and a scientific skeptic who has extensively challenged paranormal and pseudo scientific claims. A youth wing of the HEF, Norwegian Humanist Youth ( Humanistisk Ungdom ), was founded in August 2007. The current president of the board is Sina Inngjerdingen. Humanists International Humanists International (known as the International Humanist and Ethical Union , or IHEU , from 1952–2019)

249-762: A Consultative Group of five countries, one from each region. Following interviews by the Consultative Group, the Group provides a shortlist of candidates to the UNHRC President. Following consultations with the leadership of each regional grouping, the President presents a single candidate to be approved by the Member states of the UNHRC at the session following a new mandate's creation or on the expiration of

332-840: A General Assembly. Following the 2017 General Assembly, the IHEU listed its membership as 139 Member Organisations from 53 countries from a variety of non-religious traditions. A staff of four is headed by the current Chief Executive, Gary McLelland, and Humanists International maintains delegations to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, the United Nations in New York , and the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. Humanists International

415-519: A broad application. However, there seems to be little awareness that this right also provides a normative frame of reference for atheists, humanists and freethinkers and their convictions, practices and organizations. I am therefore delighted that for the first time the Humanist community has produced a global report on discrimination against atheists. I hope it will be given careful consideration by everyone concerned with freedom of religion or belief. At

498-412: A complaint should not publicly state the fact that they have submitted a complaint. To be accepted complaints must: The complaint procedure is not designed to provide remedies in individual cases or to provide compensation to alleged victims. Due to the confidential manner of the procedure, it is almost impossible to find out what complaints have passed through the procedure and also how effective

581-634: A general assembly each year and a World Humanist Congress usually every three years; its next General Assembly will be held in Singapore , in September 2024, and the next Humanist Congress in Washington D.C. in September 2026. Humanists International works to stimulate the growth of humanism and freethought and the spread of Enlightenment values around the world by supporting activists to form effective organisations in their home countries. In 2022,

664-647: A more peaceful culture in their own nations and urge all governments to prefer the peaceful settlement of conflicts over the alternative of violence and war." At World Humanist Congress 2014, in the United Kingdom, the Humanists International General Assembly adopted The Oxford Declaration on Freedom of Thought and Expression , which asserts: "Freedom of thought implies the right to develop, hold, examine and manifest our beliefs without coercion, and to express opinions and

747-520: A panel event at the European Parliament for the launch of the 2015 edition, Bielefeldt said he "unambiguously welcomed" the report and reiterated with regard to " freedom of religion or belief " that it is "only a kind of short-hand", and "Formulations such as "religious freedom" obfuscate the scope of this human right which covers the identity-shaping, profound convictions and conviction-based practices of human beings broadly." The report

830-500: A particular area of human rights, or working groups, usually composed of five members (one from each UN region). As of August 2017 there were 44 thematic and 12 country mandates. The mandates of the special procedures are established and defined by the resolution creating them. Various activities can be undertaken by mandate-holders, including responding to individual complaints, conducting studies, providing advice on technical cooperation, and engaging in promotional activities. Generally

913-403: A particular treaty. Complaints are confidential and the UNHRC will only communicate with the complainant, unless it decides that the complaint will be addressed publicly. The interaction with the complainant and the UNHRC during the complaints procedure will be on an as-needed basis. UNHRC Resolution 5/1, paragraph 86, emphasizes that the procedure is victims-oriented. Paragraph 106 provides that

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996-542: A resolution "mandating the Board to oversee a transition to a revised identity for the organization". The rebrand to Humanists International, a new operating name for the IHEU, was completed in February 2019. Humanists International is governed by an international board of directors , whose body is elected by member organisations at annual general assemblies, including a directly elected president. As of November 2024,

1079-571: A series of machete attacks primarily targeting secular and atheist bloggers and freethinkers in Bangladesh has been especially severe since 2013, and the IHEU has campaigned persistently in response and highlighted the murders at the UN Human Rights Council. Humanists International responded in 2013 to the murder of blogger and activist Ahmed Rajib Haider and the machete attack on his friend Asif Mohiuddin , and highlighted

1162-782: A sharp increase in the number of prosecutions for alleged criticism of religion by atheists on social media. Protecting freedom of expression online is a priority for the British Government and we have consistently argued against attempts to create a new international standard in order to protect religions from criticism." Recurring themes of Humanists International's advocacy and campaigns work include LGBTI rights and women's rights , sexual and reproductive health and rights , laws against blasphemy and apostasy , caste -based discrimination, slavery , and advocacy of secularism . Individuals persecuted for expressing their non-religious views (actual or perceived) have frequently been

1245-625: A special session to address human rights violations and emergencies, at the request of one-third of the member states. As of November 2023 , there had been 36 special sessions. The Council consists of 47 members, elected yearly by the General Assembly for staggered three-year terms. Members are selected via the basis of equitable geographic rotation using the United Nations regional grouping system . Members are eligible for re-election for one additional term, after which they must relinquish their seat. The seats are distributed along

1328-646: A specific emphasis on defending freedom of thought and expression and the rights of the non-religious , who are often a vulnerable minority in many parts of the world. The organisation is based in London but maintains a presence at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, the United Nations General Assembly in New York, and the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, among other international institutions. Its advocacy work focuses on shaping debates on issues associated with humanism,

1411-404: A specific religion is outlawed and punishable by death", which is placed at the worst level of severity, and under the category "Freedom of expression", and: "There is state funding of at least some religious schools", which is a middle severity condition, under the category "Education and children's rights". The data from the report is freely available under a Creative Commons license . In 2017,

1494-475: A worldview whether religious or non-religious, without fear of coercion. It includes the right to change our views or to reject beliefs previously held, or previously ascribed. Pressure to conform to ideologies of the state or to doctrines of religion is a tyranny." In 2017, Humanists International held a special conference on threats to humanism and liberal democracy from rising authoritarian populism and extremism as part of its general assembly in London. At

1577-494: Is chairman of the Board of the organization. According to its bylaws, the organization works to ensure access to humanist ceremonies and spreading knowledge of humanism. The organization previously also worked for a separation of church and state (the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Norway was the state church of Norway until 2012). A civil confirmation organized by HEF has gained popularity among

1660-532: Is "an alternative to dogmatic religion"; it values "artistic creativity and imagination" and is aimed at living lives of "fulfillment" through the powers of "free inquiry", "science" and "creative imagination". In addition to the Amsterdam Declaration's "official statement of World Humanism", Humanists International provides a "Minimum Statement on Humanism": Humanism is a democratic and ethical life stance, which affirms that human beings have

1743-496: Is an international non-governmental organisation championing secularism and human rights , motivated by secular humanist values. Founded in Amsterdam in 1952, it is an umbrella organisation made up of more than 160 secular humanist, atheist , rationalist , agnostic , skeptic , freethought and Ethical Culture organisations from over 80 countries. Humanists International campaigns globally on human rights issues, with

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1826-575: 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 . Humanists International has a wing for people aged up to 35 called the Young Humanists International . The organization's 2017 General Assembly passed

1909-541: Is elected by representatives of the Member Organisations at annual General Assemblies. The President as of 2015 is Andrew Copson (who is also the Chief Executive of Humanists UK as of 2010). The IHEU headquarters is in London. It shared an office with Humanists UK for many years until 2019. Representatives of Humanists International Member Organisations ratify new memberships annually during

1992-459: Is founded are once again under threat. We call upon the people of Europe and all who care for freedom, democracy and the rule of law to join us in promoting and protecting them." At World Humanist Congress 2011, in Norway, the Humanists International General Assembly adopted The Oslo Declaration on Peace , which concludes: "We urge each of our member organizations and Humanists globally to work for

2075-626: Is that a complaint can be made against any state, regardless of whether it has ratified a particular treaty . Due to the limited information that is provided on the complaints procedure it is hard to make comments on the process itself, the resources it uses versus its effectiveness. In addition to the UPR, the Complaint Procedure, and the Advisory Committee, the UNHRC's other subsidiary bodies include: "Special procedures"

2158-624: Is the general name given to the mechanisms established by the Human Rights Council to gather expert observations and advice on human rights issues in all parts of the world. Special procedures are categorized as either thematic mandates, which focus on major phenomena of human rights abuses worldwide, or country mandates, which report on human rights situations in specific countries or territories. Special procedures can be either individuals (called " special rapporteurs " or "independent experts"), who are intended to be independent experts in

2241-562: Is under threat globally" ( The Independent , UK); "Most countries fail to respect rights of atheists – report" ( Christian Today ); and " Stephen Fry 's mockery of religion could land him the death penalty in these countries" ( The Washington Post ). The report has received coverage in the national media of countries that are severely criticised, for example "Malaysia's free thought, religious expression under 'serious assault', study shows" (the Malay Mail ). Forewords and prefaces to

2324-554: The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine . Deputy Permanent Representative Gennady Kuzmin said that Russia had withdrawn from the council earlier in the day in expectation of the vote. Russia was only the second Human Rights Council member to be suspended from the UN body, after Libya in 2011, and it was the first permanent member of the UN Security Council to be suspended from any United Nations body. An important component of

2407-538: The United Nations Office at Geneva in Switzerland . The Council investigates allegations of breaches of human rights in United Nations member states and addresses thematic human rights issues like freedom of association and assembly , freedom of expression , freedom of belief and religion , women's rights , LGBT rights , and the rights of racial and ethnic minorities . The Council

2490-590: The World Trade Organization . The Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights was the main subsidiary body of the CHR. The Sub-Commission was composed of 26 elected human rights experts whose mandate was to conduct studies on discriminatory practices and to make recommendations to ensure that racial, national, religious, and linguistic minorities are protected by law. In 2006,

2573-531: The ministers of the cabinet to be members of the state church is discriminatory , and that Norway cannot criticise countries advocating sharia law when the constitution favours Lutheran members of society. The Norwegian Humanist Association hosted the 18th World Humanist Congress of the IHEU. The Congress was held at the Oslo Congress Center in Oslo, Norway, on the 12–14 August 2011. The theme

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2656-510: The rights of the non-religious , and promoting humanist attitudes to social issues . Humanists International is particularly active in challenging blasphemy and apostasy laws around the world and at the UN . Its annual Freedom of Thought Report indexes the world's countries by treatment of the non-religious and their commitment to freedom of thought and expression. Working with its member organisations, it also helps to coordinate support for those fleeing danger from states which persecute

2739-717: The (then) International Humanist and Ethical Union, the European Humanist Federation and Catholics for Choice , launched the Brussels Declaration , a secular response to a proposed Berlin Declaration , under which the amended EU Constitution would have made references to " God " and the " Christian roots of Europe". It made specific reference to policy positions on equality and human rights for different minority groups, concluding: "The principles and values on which European civilisation

2822-562: The Amsterdam Declaration 2022. Previously, in 2002, at the organisation's 50th anniversary World Humanist Congress, delegates unanimously passed a resolution known as the Amsterdam Declaration 2002, an update of the original Amsterdam Declaration (1952). The Amsterdam Declaration 2002 defined Humanism as a " lifestance " that is "ethical", "rational", supportive of "democracy and human rights", insisting "that personal liberty must be combined with social responsibility"; it

2905-399: The Board of Humanists International comprises: The aim of Humanists International is to "build, support and represent the global humanist movement, defending human rights, particularly those of non-religious people, and promoting humanist values world-wide". As a campaigning NGO Humanists International aims "to influence international policy through representation and information, to build

2988-539: The Council consists of a periodic review of all 193 UN member states, called the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The mechanism is based on reports coming from different sources, one of them being contributions from non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Each country's situation will be examined during a three-and-a-half-hour debate. The first cycle of the UPR took place between 2008 and 2011,

3071-574: The General Assembly elect the members who occupy 47 seats of the Human Rights Council. The term of each seat is three years, and no member may occupy a seat for more than two consecutive terms. The previous CHR had a membership of 53 elected by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) through a majority of those present and voting. The UNHRC holds regular sessions three times a year, in March, June, and September. The UNHRC can decide at any time to hold

3154-404: The Human Rights Council as a forum and a springboard for action." — Ban Ki-moon , UN Secretary-General , 2007 The United Nations Human Rights Council ( UNHRC ) is a United Nations body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world. The Council has 47 members elected for staggered three-year terms on a regional group basis. The headquarters of the Council are at

3237-538: The Humanists International general assembly unanimously adopted the Amsterdam Declaration 2022 , which presents as "the official defining statement of World Humanism". Its official symbol, the Happy Human , is shared with its member organisations worldwide. In 2022, at the organisation's 70th anniversary General Assembly, delegates voted to replace the previous Amsterdam Declaration 2002 with

3320-485: The Norwegian young during recent years. About 19 percent of Norwegian 15-year-olds were in 2018 taking part in HEF's civil or humanist confirmation, whereas 56% took part in the ceremonies of "state church", with the ceremonies of HEF increasing in popularity while the opposite happens to the church ceremonies. Locally the percentage of humanist youth ceremonies have been significantly higher and also significantly lower in

3403-517: The Special Rapporteur now has as his/her duty to report not only infringements of the rights to freedom of expression, but in some cases also employment of the rights, which "turns the special rapporteur's mandate on its head". Outside the UN, the amendment was criticised by organizations including Reporters Without Borders , Index on Censorship , Human Rights Watch , and the International Humanist and Ethical Union , all of whom share

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3486-571: The State must be secular, that is, neither religious not atheist. But demanding genuine democratic equality, recognized by the Law, between believers and humanists does not mean that the member associations of IHEU treat all philosophical points of view equally. We have no duty to respect irrationalism, however ancient its origins. True Humanism is the flourishing of freedom of conscience and the methods of free inquiry. In 2007, in an "unprecedented alliance" of

3569-618: The UNHRC of cases that would be considered consistent patterns of gross human rights violations include alleged deterioration of human rights of people belonging to a minority, including forced evictions, racial segregation and substandard living conditions, and alleged degrading situation of prison conditions for both detainees and prison workers, resulting in violence and death of inmates. Individuals, groups, or NGOs can claim to be victims of human rights violations or that have direct, reliable knowledge of such violations. Complaints can be regarding any state, regardless of whether it has ratified

3652-469: The UNHRC under the complaint procedure since 2006. This was only available to the public as of 2014, however generally does not give any details regarding the situations that were under consideration other than the state that was involved. In some cases the information is slightly more revealing, for example a situation that was listed was the situation of trade unions and human rights defenders in Iraq that

3735-458: The WGC. The UNHRC considered four complaints in their 19th session in 2012. The majority of the situations that have been considered have since been discontinued. History shows that the procedure works almost in a petition like way; if enough complaints are received then the UNHRC is very likely to assign a special rapporteur to the state or to the issue at hand. It has been said that an advantage of

3818-547: The World Humanist Congress in 2005, in France, the General Assembly adopted The Paris Declaration 2005 , on state secularism , which states: There can be no freedom of conscience when religions rule societies. Secularism is the demand for equal rights for those who belong to any religion as well as for those who belong to none... For IHEU (International Humanist and Ethical Union) and its member organizations,

3901-612: The annual edition of the Freedom of Thought Report was launched at the European Parliament in Brussels hosted by the European Parliamentary Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Religious Tolerance chaired by Dennis de Jong MEP . In his foreword to the first edition of the Freedom of Thought Report, Heiner Bielefeldt wrote: As a universal human right, freedom of religion or belief has

3984-729: The blogger Mohamed Cheikh Ould Mkhaitir currently on death row in Mauritania , and the poet Ashraf Fayadh currently imprisoned in Saudi Arabia. In June 2016 at the 32nd session of the Human Rights Council the IHEU's delegate took the unusual step of reading one of Ashraf Fayadh's poems during General Debate. Humanists International complained that fundamentalists linked to the government were "terrorising" secular activists, including individuals in connection with its Member Organisations, as far back as 2006. However,

4067-512: The churches. On July 9, 2006, a prominent member of the Norwegian Humanist Association, Jens Brun-Pedersen , called for prime minister Jens Stoltenberg to advocate the separation of church and state. He argued that the second article of the constitution of Norway which defines the "Evangelical-Lutheran Religion" as "the official religion of the State" and the 12th article of the constitution which requires half of

4150-404: The complaint procedure shall ensure that complainants are informed of the proceedings at the key stages. The WGC may request further information from complainants or a third party. Following the initial screening a request for information will be sent to the state concerned, which shall reply within three months of the request being made. WGS will then report to the UNHRC, which will usually be in

4233-436: The contribution of candidates to the promotion and protection of human rights and their voluntary pledges and commitments made thereto", and that "members elected to the Council shall uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights". Under those provisions, and in response to a recommendation made by the Council's members, on 1 March 2011 the General Assembly voted to suspend Libya's membership in

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4316-578: The country by Swedish PEN . The organisation highlighted "the failures of the Bangladeshi authorities to bring to justice the individuals and to break the networks behind this string of targeted killings", and also criticised Sweden's rejection of his visa application, commenting, "We call on all countries to recognise the legitimacy and sometimes the urgency and moral necessity of asylum claims made by humanists, atheists and secularists who are being persecuted for daring to express those views." Following

4399-416: The duties of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, passed by the Human Rights Council on 28 March 2008, gave rise to sharp criticism from western countries and human rights NGOs. The additional duty is phrased thus: (quoted from p. 67 in the official draft record of the council). The amendment was proposed by Egypt and Pakistan and passed by 27 votes to 15 against, with three abstentions with

4482-639: The following general assembly in Auckland , New Zealand , in 2018, Humanists International members agreed The Auckland Declaration on the Politics of Division , which condemned a recent global resurgence of demagogy , "exemplified in a new generation of so-called “ strong men ” politicians, who purport to stand up for popular interests, but who are eager to diminish human rights and disregard minorities in order to gain and retain power for their own ends". The Declaration commits humanist organisations "to addressing

4565-441: The following lines: The General Assembly can suspend the rights and privileges of any Council member that it decides has persistently committed gross and systematic violations of human rights during its term of membership. The suspension process requires a two-thirds majority vote by the General Assembly. The resolution establishing the UNHRC states that "when electing members of the Council, Member States shall take into account

4648-415: The form of a draft resolution or decision on the situation referred to in the complaint. The UNHRC will decide on the measures to take in a confidential manner as needed, but this will occur at least once a year. As a general rule, the period of time between the transmission of the complaint to the state concerned and consideration by the UNHRC shall not exceed 24 months. Those individuals or groups who make

4731-477: The founding congress of the International Humanist and Ethical Union in Amsterdam, 22–27 August 1952. On the last day of the congress five resolutions were passed, which included a statement of the fundamentals of "modern, ethical Humanism", a resolution which would come to be known as the Amsterdam Declaration (1952). Humanists International is a democratic organisation, the Board of which

4814-896: The humanist network, and let the world know about the worldview of Humanism." In 2012 Humanists International began publishing an annual report on "discrimination against humanists, atheists and the non-religious" called The Freedom of Thought Report. The report centres around a "Country Index" with a textual entry for every sovereign state . Each country is measured against a list of 64 boundary conditions, which are categorised into four thematic categories ("Constitution and government", "Education and children's rights", "Family, community, society, religious courts and tribunals", and "Freedom of expression, advocacy of humanist values") at five levels of overall "severity" ("Free and equal", "Mostly satisfactory", "Systemic discrimination", "Severe discrimination" and "Grave violations"). The 64 boundary conditions include for example: "'Apostasy' or conversion from

4897-639: The international humanist movement to "foster a social and political commitment to urgent action and long-term policymaking to mitigate and prevent climate change." Five Humanist organisations, the American Ethical Union , American Humanist Association , British Ethical Union (later the British Humanist Association and now Humanists UK ), Vienna Ethical Society and the Dutch Humanist League hosted

4980-520: The light of the situation in the country in the wake of Muammar Gaddafi 's "violent crackdown on anti-government protestors"; Libya was reinstated as a Council member on 18 November 2011. On 7 April 2022, just days after photographic and video material of the Bucha massacre emerged, the eleventh emergency special session of the General Assembly suspended Russia from the council due to the gross and systematic violations of human rights committed during

5063-534: The murder of Niladri Chattopadhyay Niloy (or Niloy Chatterjee, also known by his pen name Niloy Neel), 7 August 2015, Humanists International again attacked the government and authorities, saying, "Apparent failure to pursue the most obvious lines of inquiry even when initial arrests are made, and media manipulation resulting in conflicting stories, further makes reportage difficult and police operations opaque." United Nations Human Rights Council "All victims of human rights abuses should be able to look to

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5146-809: The newly created UNHRC assumed responsibility for the Sub-Commission. The Sub-Commission's mandate was extended for one year (to June 2007), but it met for the final time in August 2006. At its final meeting, the Sub-Commission recommended the creation of a Human Rights Consultative Committee to provide advice to the UNHRC. In September 2007, the UNHRC decided to create an Advisory Committee to provide expert advice with 18 members, distributed as follows: five from African states; five from Asian states; three from Latin American and Caribbean states; three from Western European and other states; and two members from Eastern European states. The UNHRC complaint procedure

5229-433: The non-religious . It advocates a humanist approach to various social issues, contributing to bioethical debates and arguing in favour of sexual and reproductive health and rights , LGBT rights , children's rights and women's rights , and in opposition to slavery and caste discrimination . Outside of its advocacy work, Humanists International functions as the democratic organ of the global humanist movement. It holds

5312-421: The procedure is the confidential manner, which offers the ability to engage with the state concerned through a more [diplomatic] process, which can produce better results than a more adversarial process of public accusation. The procedure is considered by some a useful tool to have at the disposal on the international community for situations where naming and shaming has proved ineffective. Also another advantage

5395-416: The procedure is. There is a principle of non-duplication, which means that the complaint procedure cannot take up the consideration of a case that is already being dealt with by a special procedure, a treaty body or other United Nations or similar regional complaints procedure in the field of human rights. On the UNHRC website under the complaints procedure section there is a list of situations referred to

5478-403: The report found that 30 countries meet at least one boundary condition at the most severe level ("Grave violations"), and a further 55 countries met at least one boundary condition in the next most severe level ("Severe discrimination"). The various annual editions of the Freedom of Thought Report have been reported in the media under headlines such as: "How the right to deny the existence of God

5561-532: 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. Member Organisations of Humanists International are required according to its membership regulations to have objects that are "consistent" with this understanding of Humanism. At

5644-440: The second cycle between 2012 and 2016, and the third cycle began in 2017 and is expected to be completed in 2021. The General Assembly resolution establishing the Council provided that "the Council shall review its work and functioning five years after its establishment". The main work of the review was undertaken in an Intergovernmental Working Group established by the Council in its Resolution 12/1 of 1 October 2009. The review

5727-584: The social causes of the politics of division: social inequality, a lack of respect for human rights, popular misconceptions about the nature of democracy" and affirms the "values of democracy, rule of law, equality, and human rights." In 2019, Humanists International members unanimously passed the Reykjavik Declaration on the Climate Change Crisis, acknowledging the scientific consensus on anthropogenic climate change committing

5810-504: The special procedures mandate-holders report to the Council at least once a year on their findings. Mandate-holders of the special procedures serve in their personal capacity, and do not receive pay for their work. The independent status of the mandate-holders is crucial to be able to fulfill their functions in all impartiality. The OHCHR provides staffing and logistical support to aid each mandate-holders in carrying out their work. Applicants for Special Procedures mandates are reviewed by

5893-487: The subject of IHEU campaigns. Some prominent cases include: The IHEU delegation at the United Nations Human Rights Council has repeatedly raised the imprisonment and corporal punishment of Raif Badawi for "insulting religion", and Waleed Abulkhair for "disrespecting the authorities", both in Saudi Arabia . Humanists International similarly highlights cases where individuals are accused of " apostasy ", such as

5976-570: The subsequent arrest and imprisonment of Mohiuddin and others for "hurting religious sentiments". When author and prominent leader of the Bengali freethought movement Avijit Roy was murdered, 26 February 2015, Humanists International revealed that he had been advising them on the situation in Bangladesh; Humanists International Director of Communications commented, "This loss is keenly felt by freethinkers and humanists in South Asia and around

6059-537: The support of other members of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference , China, Russia, and Cuba. As a result of the amendment over 20 of the original 53 co-sponsors of the main resolution – to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur – withdrew their support, though the resolution was carried by 32 votes to 0, with 15 abstentions. Inter alia the delegates from India and Canada protested that

6142-405: The term of an existing mandate holder. Country mandates must be renewed yearly by the UNHRC; thematic mandates must be renewed every three years. Mandate-holders, whether holding a thematic or country-specific mandate, are generally limited to six years of service. The list of thematic special procedures mandate-holders can be found here: United Nations special rapporteur The amendments to

6225-548: The various annual editions of report have been written by then- United Nations Special Rapporteurs on Freedom of Religion or Belief , Heiner Bielefeldt , in 2012; two victims of "blasphemy" accusations, Kacem El Ghazzali and Alber Saber in 2013; human rights defenders Gulalai Ismail and Agnes Ojera in 2014; humanist activist and survivor of an anti-secularist machete attack in Bangladesh , Rafida Ahmed Bonya (2015); and United Nations Special Rapporteurs on Freedom of Religion or Belief , Ahmed Shaheed , in 2016. In 2015 and 2016

6308-414: The view that the amendment threatens freedom of expression. In terms of the finally cast votes, this was far from the most controversial of the 36 resolutions adapted by the 7th session of the Council. The highest dissents concerned combating defamation of religions, with 21 votes for, 10 against, and 14 abstentions (resolution 19, pp. 91–97), and the continued severe condemnation of and appointment of

6391-497: The world. He was a colleague in humanism and a friend to all who respect human rights, freedom, and the light of reason." Following the murder of Washiqur Rahman Babu (or Oyasiqur Rhaman), 30 March 2015, Humanists International republished some of his final writings. Following the murder of Ananta Bijoy Das , 12 May 2016, Humanists International leaked parts of the letter Bijoy Das had recently received from Sweden rejecting his visa application, despite his having been invited to

6474-411: Was Humanism and Peace. HEF also hosted the 3rd in 1962 and the 9th in 1986. Although raising public awareness of scepticism is not a primary goal of the Norwegian Humanist Association, an online campaign was organized in 2011 called Ingen liker å bli lurt (No one likes to be fooled), which led to media debate of the issues. The campaign was kicked off by three appearances in Norway by James Randi ,

6557-447: Was considered in 2012, but the UNHRC decided to discontinue that consideration. The complaints procedure has been said to be too lenient due to its confidential manner. Some have often questioned the value of the procedure, but 94% of states respond to the complaints raised with them. The OHCHR receives between 11,000 and 15,000 communications per year. During 2010–11, 1,451 out of 18,000 complaints were submitted for further action by

6640-740: Was established by the United Nations General Assembly on 15 March 2006 to replace the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR, herein CHR). The Council works closely with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and engages the United Nations special procedures . The Council has been strongly criticized for including member countries that engage in human rights abuses. The members of

6723-441: Was established on 18 June 2007 (by UNHRC Resolution 5/1) for reporting of consistent patterns of gross and reliably attested violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world and under any circumstances. The UNHRC set up two working groups for its Complaint Procedure: The Chairman of the WGC screens complaints for admissibility. A complaint must be in writing, and cannot be anonymous. Examples provided by

6806-552: Was finalized in March 2011, by the adoption of an "Outcome" at the Council's 16th session, annexed to Resolution 16/21. First cycle: The following terms and procedures were set out in General Assembly Resolution 60/251: Second cycle: HRC Resolution 16/21 brought the following changes: Similar mechanisms exist in other organizations: International Atomic Energy Agency , Council of Europe , International Monetary Fund , Organization of American States , and

6889-500: Was the subject of a question in the UK Parliament in 2013, to which David Lidington MP responded for the government asserting, "Our freedom of religion or belief policy is consistent with the key message of the International Humanist and Ethical Union's (IHEU) report: that international human rights law exists to protect the rights of individuals to manifest their beliefs, not to protect the beliefs themselves. The report records

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