International Humanist Association: An exciting congress*
Publisher: In-Sight Publishing
Publisher Founding: September 1, 2014
Publisher Location: Fort Langley, Township of Langley, British Columbia, Canada
Publication: Freethought Newswire
Original Link: https://assohum.org/2023/09/01/compte-rendu-congres-humaniste-2023/
Publication Date: 2023
Organization: L’Association humaniste du Québec
Organization Description: The Quebec Humanist Association brings together people who place the human being before any belief or ideology. It is a recognized non-profit charitable organization that promotes critical thinking and humanist values, with secularism at the forefront. It’s also a home that warmly welcomes all those whose worldview does not include supranatural or mystical elements. This large family brings together a surprising variety of individuals from different orientations, right or left, authoritarian or libertarian, who all feel united in defending their naturalistic vision of the universe. The Association, which represents the humanist community, has the structure of a classic democratic association, with each member having one vote. Members have access at all times via the Internet to the minutes of general assemblies and meetings of their board of directors, monthly updates of their balance sheets and statements of operating results, and various other reports to enable them to examine all their operations with the utmost transparency.
*Text translated by DeepL.*
By Pierre St-Amant, AHQ congress delegate.
The Humanists International Association is a non-governmental organization of humanists, atheists, agnostics, and freethinkers from around the world. It promotes humanist principles and defends humanists suffering persecution and violence around the world. It also promotes policies based on reason and science. It holds annual general assemblies and normally organizes a world congress every three years (the general assembly then takes place at the same time as the congress), but the pandemic prevented this event from being held for a few years.
The Association humaniste du Québec (AHQ) is a member of the AHI, and it was as an AHQ representative that I took part in the Copenhagen congress, from August 4 to 6, 2023. Over 400 humanists from 43 countries attended the congress. They represented all demographic groups and offered a great diversity of viewpoints. In particular, I found the presence of so many young people very stimulating. It was also exciting to be able to interact with all these people.
I’ve attended several conferences in my career as an economist. I’ve even organized a few. I have to say that the AHI Congress was one of the most interesting and well-organized I’ve ever attended. The quality of the speeches was good, and the logistical support was outstanding. I was struck by the friendliness of the participants. What’s more, the program was rounded off by some very interesting cultural activities, such as a fine humanist choir that performed John Lennon’s Imagine at the start of the congress, and the presence of a painter who was commissioned to produce works of art during the congress, including a man on which she painted various humanist symbols.
BUILDING BETTER DEMOCRACIES
The main theme of this year’s congress was: Building better democracies through humanist values. Already, at its 2018 General Meeting, the AHI denounced the rise of demagogic politicians bent on curtailing democratic rights and freedoms. This theme came back with a vengeance in 2023. Political scientist Sofia Näsström (Uppsala University) highlighted the actions of extremist groups capitalizing on fear and traditional religious values to restrict freedom of expression and take control of the judiciary. Nicole Carr, President of the Humanist Association of the United States, gave the example of Christian nationalist groups, often evangelicals, attacking the secular foundations of the United States. According to Carr, Christian nationalists have invaded state legislatures, city councils, and school boards. They would also control the Supreme Court. From there, they would suppress rights such as abortion, ban books, and seek to rewrite history. They would also be responsible for the January 6, 2020 attack on the Capitol and undermine the democratic system. These U.S. groups are also reportedly active in other countries, such as Uganda, where they are working to eliminate gay rights. All this despite the decline in their demographic weight and the rise of the non-religious in the United States.
Participants pointed out that similar processes are underway in several other countries, including Hungary, India, Poland, the Philippines, Italy, Brazil, and Guatemala. These forces are even at work in countries regarded as democratic models, such as Sweden and Norway. Humanists are said to be in danger just about everywhere (Bangladesh, Pakistan, etc.). To counter these trends, the philosopher Lars Svendsen (University of Bergen) has called for hope (he addresses this subject in a forthcoming book). For him, man is the only animal capable of hope, and this is what gives him the strength to act to change things. The alternative would be fear, which demagogues use to manipulate us. Hope, however, should be constrained by rationality. It should not be based on wishful thinking, but rather aim for feasible progress. Several participants asserted that humanists need to better communicate their positive values, and not just assert what they don’t believe in. The general assembly approved a resolution calling on humanists to defend and improve democracy.
Other topics were also discussed. For example, one session looked at the points of tension between freedom of religion and emancipation. Nazila Ghanea (UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief) explained that the recognition of freedom of conscience should, in theory, ease these tensions, as everyone recognizes the right of others to act according to their conscience. Other participants, however, pointed out that, in practice, believers often seek to impose their values by undemocratic means. The Christian Right’s fight against abortion rights was cited as an example by many.
UKRAINE – THE HUMANIST POSITION
The situation in Ukraine was also the subject of much discussion. Russian aggression was presented as an attack on democracy, with Putin fearing that a Ukraine marching towards democracy could encourage other countries to follow suit. Oleksandra Romantsova, director of the Center for Civil Liberties (Nobel Peace Prize 2022), also claimed that her organization could document 47,417 war crimes committed since the start of hostilities in Ukraine. The General Assembly unanimously reaffirmed the AHI’s position calling for the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine. However, following a rather tense debate, a narrow majority voted against a resolution calling for all aid, including military aid, to be sent to Ukraine to push Russia back. Opponents were reluctant to support the sending of military aid, which they saw as contrary to humanist values. Those who supported the resolution argued instead that military aid was necessary to prevent Ukrainians from being massacred.
JOINT HUMANIST ACTIONS?
One of the congress sessions dealt with ways of better coordinating the actions of humanist associations in different parts of the world. Delegates from North America (USA and Canada) were able to discuss strategy. However, the challenges facing the two countries were said to be quite different, making it difficult to coordinate actions. In a subsequent meeting, however, the Canadian humanists took the discussion a step further. They agreed on the need to improve communication between the various groups. A number of topics of common interest and potential for coordinated action were also put forward (I myself suggested that it might be possible to coordinate our actions to change symbols, such as the national anthem, that refer to god or religion).
Another session worried that the digitization of the economy could be used to manipulate and enslave human beings for the benefit of a few large corporations. Digitization could generate new religions. It could also lead to profound human modifications (transhumanism). The question of the rights of artificial intelligence could soon arise. Participants called for humanist values to be imposed on artificial intelligence. Others called for a ban on designing conscious machines. But all could only note that it will be difficult to impose such constraints on all countries.
NEXT CONVENTION
Washington, D.C. will host the next AHI convention in 2026. I recommend that the Quebec Humanist Association be well represented at this congress. We should also consider participating in the General Assembly to be held in Singapore in 2024. In my opinion, our participation in AHI activities can lead to coordinated ideas and actions that can advance the humanist cause in Quebec.
Humanist International is headquartered in London, UK. AHQ has been a voting member since 2006.
License
In-Sight Publishing by Scott Douglas Jacobsen is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Based on work at www.in-sightpublishing.com.
Copyright
© Scott Douglas Jacobsen and In-Sight Publishing 2012-Present. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Scott Douglas Jacobsen, or the author(s), and In-Sight Publishing with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. All interviewees and authors copyright their material, as well, and may disseminate for their independent purposes.
In-Sight Publishing 