IHEU has received a gift of more than US$2.5 million from the estate of the late Victor Kay, a longtime Humanist who lived in Los Angeles, California. The bequest is the largest individual gift in IHEU’s 57-year history. “This is a transformative, momentum-building gift that demonstrates real leadership on behalf of Mr. Kay,” said Sonja Eggerickx, president of the IHEU. “IHEU is extremely grateful, as this underwrites our efforts as the leader in Humanism around the globe.”

The Daily Telegraph of Australia reports: The secular Democratic party of Indonesia's president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono triples its share of the vote in parliamentary elections and support for religious parties nose-dived -- suggesting that the most populous Muslim nation is delinking faith and politics.

207 organizations from 46 Countries (and European and International organizations) have indicated their support for the Joint Statement on Defamation of Religions.

Imagine that because of your birth you are only allowed to do one job: cleaning up human excrement. Imagine being born into a group that is never allowed to mix with the rest of society. In India, they used to be called “Untouchables” and are now known as “Dalits”. They are, in the most literal sense, outcastes. They have been historically excluded from human society, and deprived of the most basic opportunities.

The extraordinarily timely World Day of Social Justice recently established by the UN builds on the idea expressed byh Adam Smith that economic success depends on the wellbeing of people: "prudence is a virtue for individuals", but "humanity, justice, generosity and public spirit are the qualities most useful to others."

The venue for the IHEU and EHF general assemblies is Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL.

The following suggestions for accommodation have been provided by the BHA.

In what was probably a first for the United Nations, delegates to the Human Rights Council heard two Muslims describe Islamism as "Racism" and tell their listeners that the OIC does not speak for the majority of the world's Muslims. Danish MP and leader of the Liberal Alliance Naser Khader, and Tarek Fatah, founder of the Muslim Canadian Congress were eloquent in their denunciation of the OIC, its Saudi paymasters, Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood. The conference was widely reported, including in the Pakistan Daily Times

Applications for funding under the 2007 grants programme closed on 30 September 2007.

In June 2006, IHEU was awarded a three year “block grant” of €225,000 from HIVOS for the purpose of funding projects in the developing world. The grant covers the years 2006, 2007 and 2008. IHEU then invited grant proposals through this web site, International Humanist News and by word of mouth.

The raison d'àªtre of IHEU, indeed the primary justification for its existence, is to serve its member organisations. By providing a voice for international Humanism at the UN and other international forums, by organising World Humanist Congresses and regional conferences, and by providing support, guidance and leadership to individual, often struggling Humanist organisations around the world, IHEU has for over 50 years amply fulfilled its role. But, as our members frequently remind us, we could do more, and could do it better.