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British Humanists have already been deeply involved in the International Humanist and Ethical Union’s (IHEU) World Humanist Congress in Oslo, organised by the Norwegian Humanist Association. We have been invited to speak, train and chair sessions at this prestigious triennial event, which has delegates from over 60 countries, making it the most diverse Humanist Congress in history.
BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson is a Vice President of IHEU and, in addition to chairing a number of sessions at the General Assembly, he will be speaking about the BHA’s Census Campaign. The BHA ran a major campaign on the 2011 Census, encouraging non-religious people to tick the ‘No Religion’ box on the Census form: ‘If you’re not religious, for God’s sake, say so!’
Naomi Phillips, BHA Head of Public Affairs, will be addressing the Congress on the need to include non-religious people in official Remembrance Day services. The BHA has been working closely with the UK Armed Forces Humanist Association, a specialist group affiliated to the BHA, to ensure that non-religious people who have fought and died for their country are recognised and appreciated just as their religious contemporaries are.
BHA trustee David Pollock, who is also the current President of the European Humanist Federation, will be addressing the Congress on campaigning work in European institutions.
BHA member and chair of South West London Humanists Jeremy Rodell spoke to a hugely diverse leadership meeting on how to organise local groups.
Bob Churchill, former BHA Head of Education and Promotion, has been awarded funding from IHEU to volunteer for the Uganda Humanist Association (UHASSO). However, at the Congress Bob will be giving a presentation on the BHA’s Atheist Bus Campaign, our hugely successful campaign where buses nationwide were adorned with the slogan, ‘There’s Probably No God. Now Stop Worrying and Enjoy Your Life’.
The BHA is a member of IHEU, and helped to found the organisation in 1952.