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Annual Report 2019

Bold and brave. We are the global representative body of the . 2 Foreword 3

Foreword

Much of 2019 was marked by the ongoing persecution of my dear friend and Board colleague .

You will read more in this report about the ongoing requests we continue to receive from humanists at risk around the world. I Annual Report and my fellow members of the Board take these concerns seriously, and in late 2019 2019 approved plans from the Chief Executive to greatly increase the resources available to support humanists at risk. These are needed Contents more than ever.

2019 also was the year where I was re- Introduction 4 elected for the second time directly by our members at the General Assembly. It is a Our objectives 6 Gulalai was detained by Pakistani security huge privilege to be President of Humanists services on her way home from a , and I am very grateful to you Our people 7 International Board meeting in October all for your continued support. Our joint 2018. Within minutes of her being detained work for and human progress Key figures 8 our staff were alerted and had begun the has never been more vital and I thank you process of compiling information and Update on Gulalai 10 for allowing me to serve in leading it in the coordinating our global campaign to ensure coming years. her safety. Report on the General Assembly 12 Thank you. Almost an entire year of campaigning and Advocacy 14 lobbying followed. You may remember that when we met in Reykjavik in June 2019, we Our members 20 took a moment to reflect on the situation for our friend, and to redouble our efforts Growth and development 22 to bring her to safety. It was a time of Young Humanists International 26 high anxiety. President Three months later Gulalai reached safety in Humanists At Risk 28 the , where she is now living in Finances 29 asylum. In her own words Gulalai says that Humanists International played a ‘key role’ Plans for growth 32 in getting her to safety. 4 Introduction Introduction 5

I would also like to pay special Introduction tribute to our colleague Bob Churchill, who left the organisation at the end of 2019 after seven years with the organisation.

Bob helped to establish a whole supporting our Members and strand of work around human Associates who are also doing rights and the non-religious, this important work. developing the Freedom of Following a significant change Thought Report, coordinating to our internal at the the End Laws 2019 General Assembly, a big campaign, and championing job of work has been undertaken the cause of “humanists at to review our governance risk” casework within the structure and to ensure that we organization. His contribution are effectively set-up to do our to the organization, and the work. Changes to structures will 2019 was another busy wider community, cannot mean that we will have a greater be overstated. year, the official launch degree of separation between It has become clear that we our entities in the UK and the of our new branding and must focus more attention US, this will streamline our and resources on supporting financial processes and make website went really well, the most vulnerable in our our governance and financial community: humanists at oversight more transparent and and we received a lot of risk. Thanks to the increasing robust, as well as bring us in-line support from our Members with good governance practices great feedback from our and Associates, 2020 will see for international NGOs. us grow the staff team so that Thank you for your support, we can scale up the level of our Members and Associates. and a special thank you to my work. Specifically we will hire a staff colleagues and volunteers Gary McLelland Humanists at Risk Coordinator, who work harder than you Chief Executive who will be a senior staff position can imagine. within the organization who will focus on providing support Thank you to humanists at risk, as well as 6 Our objectives Our people 7

The Objectives of Our people Humanists International Our Board

Since 1952, Humanists International has been the global representative body of the humanist movement, uniting a President: Vice-president: Treasurer: Board Member: Board Member: diversity of non-religious organizations and individuals. Andrew Copson Anne-France Becky Hale United Gulalai Ismail Ketelaer Belgium Netherlands States of America We want everyone to live a life of dignity in a world where universal human rights are respected and protected, and where states uphold .

We work to build, support and represent the global humanist Board Member: Board Member: Board Member: Board Member: Board Member: movement, defending human rights, particularly those of non- Kristin Mile Kato Mukasa Uttam Niraula David Pineda Roslyn Mould Uganda Nepal Guatemala Ghana religious people, and promoting humanist values worldwide. Until 2 June 2019 From 2 June 2019

Our staff and volunteers

Chief Executive: Director of Finance UN, New York: UN, New York: Research: Advocacy: Gary McLelland Advocacy: Administrator: John Wagner Daniel Hoffman Avilia Zavarella Jessica McDonald Elizabeth O’Casey Jean Zong

Director of Growth and UN, Geneva: UN, New York: : Advocacy: Communications Development Kacem El Ghazzali Margaretha Jones Renate Bauer Francesca Gallelli and Campaigns: Officer: Giovanni Bob Churchill Gaetani 8 Key figures Key figures 9

Key figures

£

75 delegates Income £102,669 given out at GA (compared to 54 in is up 70% in growth and development grants, the previous year) compared to last year more than 6x the amount of last year

We supported Over 400 12 Parliamentarians 96 Humanists people from around the world trained on the Humanist worldview and at Risk took part in 40 Café human rights Humaniste events

Average age of GA delegates We delivered 19 15 European Union was 42 statements at the UN and Foreign Office staff 2 at the OSCE trained on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Evangelical influence in Africa and Latin America 10 Update on Gulalai Update on Gulalai 11

Update on Gulalai Gulalai Ismail, a Board member of Humanists International, from Pakistan, was first detained on 12 October 2018 as she returned to Islamabad from a Board meeting in .

Following her detention, Humanists International – and other humanist organisations around the world – led an active campaign to raise awareness of her persecution. Almost one year later, on 19 September 2019, Gulalai sent this personal message to our Members and Supporters: “ I have arrived safely in the United States, and I am on track to get asylum here where I can be safe. The last few months have been awful. I have been threatened, harassed, and I am lucky to be alive. I need you to know how immensely grateful I am to all of you, and to the wider humanist family around the world; by continuing to raise my case and making sure that authorities in Pakistan could not forget about me. The work of Humanists International was key in making sure that the authorities in Pakistan were held to account. I am incredibly grateful to all of you who helped.” 12 Report on the General Assembly Report on the General Assembly 13

Report on the Reykjavik Declaration on the Crisis Proposed by the Boards of the European Humanist Federation, Humanists International, and General Assembly Young Humanists International Human beings are part of the natural world, but have a disproportionate effect on the global environment and biodiversity. Throughout history, our species has used the natural world to increase individual and collective wellbeing, and the impact we have is no longer sustainable. Policies adopted by governments should be informed by scientific findings. Governments The 2019 Humanists need to respect the overwhelming conclusions reached by the international scientific community, including that the overuse of natural resources and the increase in greenhouse International General gas emissions is driving catastrophic climate change, threatening the diversity of life on Earth Assembly took place and the sustainability of human societies. Indeed, extreme scenarios pose an existential risk to humanity. The world must act with urgency and in a globally coordinated way to reduce in Reykjavik, Iceland and prevent human contributions to climate change, to mitigate climate impacts and adapt to them. on 2 June. Humanists We recognise: We support: were welcomed by the • The overwhelming scientific consensus • The Framework Convention that human beings are contributing to the on Climate Change, and the resulting work President of Iceland Mr. climate change trend of global warming; of the 2017 Paris Agreement, and the 2017 United Nations Climate Change • That climate change will adversely affect Conference (COP23); Guðni Th. Jóhannesson. human communities, non-human animals and natural ecosystems; • The urgent work of the scientific, The General Assemblies of Humanists International, Young engineering and activist communities to • The threat to ecosystems caused by Humanists International, and the European Humanist research and deploy new technologies and land-use and resource extraction, Federation were held alongside a conference by the strategies to mitigate the risks to civilisation including commercial deforestation Icelandic Humanists on the theme of “What are the ethical and biodiversity; questions of the 21st century?”. and unsustainable farming; • The need for a global transition to new • That investment in new renewable energy Delegates from around the world discussed and approved ways of using resources and new means technology must happen alongside a a new Reykjavik Declaration on the Climate Change Crisis, of generating energy that will be socially massive reduction in the use of carbon- and approved changes to the Humanists International and environmentally sustainable. membership structure designed to increase democratic intensive fuels, such as coal, oil and gas; participation from newer humanist organizations. Read • That all countries need to work to reduce more here: https://humanists.international/2019/06/ greenhouse gas emissions and to preserve We call upon all humanist organizations, looking-to-the-future-from-the-top-of-the-world/ habitats and species. civil society in general, and all individuals around the world to: • That economic development resulting from industrialisation has historically 1. Highlight to their governments and advantaged countries as they develop, regional bodies the need for urgent and that wealthier countries should action to reduce greenhouse gas assist developing countries in meeting emissions and make land-use and environmental obligations. resource extraction sustainable, and to protect and conserve wild habitats; 2. Foster a social and political commitment to urgent action and long-term policymaking to mitigate and prevent climate change. 14 Advocacy Advocacy 15

recommendations and are a joint venture of Our work with UN Advocacy some Western states and the Organisation Special Rapporteurs of Islamic Cooperation. The meetings In 2019, we participated in closed cover Freedom of Religion and Belief consultations with three UN Special and combating intolerance and hatred. Rapporteurs. One was with the Special Whilst there, the Director of Advocacy was Rapporteur in the field of Cultural Rights interviewed by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign At the United Nations ahead of her drafting a report for the Affairs- who organised the conference – so UN Human Rights Council on “Cultural as to feed into a briefing to be sent to all Rights Defenders.” Another was with Dutch embassies on Freedom of Religion or the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom In 2019, Humanists International attended Belief and combating intolerance and hatred. of Expression ahead of his 2020 report all three sessions of the United Nations Finally, the Danish and Norwegian Ministries on artistic expression. The Director of Foreign Affairs Offices and their Special of Advocacy also attended regional Human Rights Council in Geneva. Representatives on Freedom of Religion or consultations in Uruguay, Argentina, Sri Belief launched a year-long consultation Lanka, South Africa, Geneva, New York, process on Freedom of Religion or Belief on the UN Special Rapporteur’s 2020 In total the team delivered 19 statements role, she met with the International Contact and Gender Equality within the framework report on Freedom of Religion or Belief, – some of them in Arabic. The subjects of Group for Freedom of Religion or Belief. The of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Gender and non-discrimination. As well as statements included: blasphemy, Contact Group occupies a unique role as Director of Advocacy was invited to become participating in these consultations, she and the cases of humanists at risk; LGBTI an informal body, to enhance information a member of the expert group leading it. She organised a day’s worth of meetings in rights; sexual and reproductive health sharing and cooperation between states participated in the three workshops through with EU officials and progressive and rights, with a focus on the abortion committed to protecting and promoting the the year. The end result was a publication NGOs for the UN Special Rapporteur on bans and criminalisation of miscarriage right to freedom of religion or belief. by the Danish Institute for Human Rights on Freedom of Religion or Belief. He was in Central America; women human rights The Director of Advocacy joined our New “Promoting freedom of religion or belief and hosted in the office of demens.nu, where defenders; the rights of the child (including York volunteers in the autumn to attend gender equality in the context of the the Director of Advocacy is based. She child marriage and child sacrifice); the rise of meetings around the Third Committee sustainable development goals.” also contributed to his previous Human populist nationalism and minority-blaming; of the UN General Assembly. Volunteer Rights Council report, which was on and the global climate change emergency. Representative, Margaretha Jones, continues anti-blasphemy and anti-apostasy laws. Countries covered included , to be active on the NGO Committee on Iran, , Nicaragua, Brunei, Norway, the Rights of the Child, the Commission Cyprus, , and Morocco. The on the Status of Women NGO Committee advocacy team worked with Member and the Conference of NGOs. Volunteer Organizations such as the Norwegian Representative John Wagner continues to Humanist Association, the Cyprus Humanist hold a position on the board of the NGO Association, the New Zealand Humanists, Committee on Freedom of Religion or and the Humanist Association of Belief (New York). to draft the statements and deliver them. We have also been involved in UN initiatives In March, the Director of Advocacy was outside Geneva and New York. For example, a panellist at a Human Rights Council the Director of Advocacy participated in side-event organised by Association for a two day workshop as part of the Office Progressive Communications and FORUM- for the UN High Commissioner on Human ASIA on “Defending Expression and Diversity Rights (OHCHR)’s Faith for Rights initiative. of Religion and Belief or Non-Belief in the The point of which was to come up with Digital Age.” a training manual on the Faith for Rights This year, the Director of Advocacy was issues. The Director of Advocacy attended re-elected as Vice Chair of the UN NGO the UN Istanbul Process meeting in the Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief Hague. The Istanbul meetings are one (Geneva) for another three-year term. In that outcome of the UN 16/18 Resolution 16 Advocacy Advocacy 17

At the African Commission At the Inter-American on Human and Peoples’ Rights Commission on Human Rights The Director of Advocacy attended the The Director of Advocacy attended 64th session of the African Commission the Third Forum of the Inter-American on Human and Peoples’ Rights, in . Human Rights System and the Whilst there, she made two statements. 174th Session of the Inter-American One drew attention to anti-blasphemy Commission on Human Rights. These and apostasy laws in the region, with an were held in Quito, Ecuador. This was emphasis on the host nation, Egypt. The primarily a fact-finding mission to see how other highlighted the right to freedom of the Commission works and the possibilities expression for all people whatever their for helping or supporting American Member gender identity or sexual orientation. This Organisations to take cases there. second was supported by the Humanist Association of Nigeria and drew on the Director of Advocacy’s experience of hearing Working with the EU and the European Union External Action Service how the Nigerians and other representatives Humanists International has continued to engage with the EU’s External Action Service (EEAS) and at the UN speak of LGBTI people in their other European Union Institutions, such as the Commission and Parliament. The Director of Advocacy own countries. The Director of Advocacy also continued to attend meetings between NGOs and the EEAS designed to help set the Human Rights priorities for attended the NGO Forum which preceded the Service, kept in contact with staff on situations of concern outside of Europe, and also met with Eamon Gilmore, the session of the Commission. the EU Special Representative for Human Rights. The Director of Advocacy attended a consultation meeting on the ’s Article 17 process (the process in which it engages – by Treaty obligation – with confessional and non-confessional groups) and spoke on a panel at an event in Brussels looking back at the work of the (then) At the Organization for Security Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the EU over his past term. and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) The Director of Advocacy was appointed Training of policy-makers as a member of the OSCE’s Expert Panel on Freedom of Religion or Belief. She In September, the Director of Advocacy took spent three days in Warsaw in September part in the three-day training course run by for her first meeting and was nominated to the International Panel of Parliamentarians be part of its sub-committee on Gender for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB) and FoRB. and led a session on how the right to freedom of religion or belief includes humanist and Volunteer Representative Kacem El Ghazalli non-religious “beliefs”. Attendees included attended the OSCE’s annual human rights parliamentarians from Pakistan, Malaysia, meeting (known as the Human Dimension and Myanmar. Implementation meeting) on behalf of Humanists International. Whilst there he The Director of Advocacy was also part of a team met the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom training European External Action Service officials of Religion or Belief, OSCE officials, and he and EU diplomats in Freedom of Religion or Belief delivered two oral statements; one calling on and Diplomacy. She ran three out of the eight Poland to do more to protect the rights sessions and was part of the final roundtable. of women and the other on the right to Whilst one of her sessions looked at the “Belief” peaceful protest and freedom of association. in the Right to Freedom of Religion or Belief, the Director of Advocacy focused her other two sessions on the rise of Evangelicalism in Latin America and in Africa and its impact on Human Rights. This follows from an increasing focus our advocacy is taking in combating the anti-choice movement globally. 18 Advocacy Advocacy 19

Combating the anti-choice movement Whilst attending the Winter session around the work of the anti-choice lobby at of the Council of Europe, we helped the UN, which is often funded by American organise a briefing for MPs on the and Russian ultra-conservative and far-right issue of anti-choice actors working to organisations. undermine human rights at the Council. The Director of Advocacy also participated The briefing was jointly hosted by European in a three-day International Strategy Parliamentary Forum on Population Meeting on Gender Justice and Anti- and Development, the International Rights Movements, (in association with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Observatory on the Universality of Rights), in Association (ILGA) Europe, International Mexico City. The purpose of this was to bring Planned Parenthood Federation-EN and the together NGO representatives from across European Humanist Federation. The briefing the world to strategise together to formulate also discussed the application by ADF some concrete actions to push forward the International for NGO observer status at the work and counter the religious right and Council of Europe. Their bid was rejected on fundamentalists undermining human rights. the grounds that their advocacy and values went against the values of the Istanbul Finally, Humanists International joined Convention. Together, with the European hundreds of other NGOs in signing a Humanist Federation playing a key role, as a statement delivered at the UN in support group of progressive NGOs we ensured that of the mandate of the UN Independent a liberal (Francophone) Belgian MEP would Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender be in charge of examining their appeal which Identity. Despite heavy opposition from in the end put them off appealing. anti-choice actors and representatives from Mairead McGuinness, Vice-President of the European Parliament, reading the report during the 2019 launch in the the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, In parallel, our Director of Advocacy has European Parliament on 13th November. the mandate was successfully renewed been working with a group of progressive for another term. allies in New York to raise an awareness Freedom of Thought Report The 2019 edition of the Freedom of Thought The Report also highlights a deterioration in other Report was launched in the European countries. Both Brunei and have actually Parliament on 13 November. Now in its eighth increased the penalties for ‘blasphemy’ and ‘apostasy’ annual edition, it examines the legal and human in the past two years. Brunei’s new 2019 penal code An advocacy success: The Release of Chiekh! rights situation for “humanists, atheists and renders blasphemy and apostasy, as well as other the non-religious” around the world. hudud crimes such as adultery and homosexuality, punishable by death. Mauritania introduced a August brought us some wonderful news: Mauritanian The 2019 edition celebrates the fact that eight mandatory death sentence for blasphemy and anti- activist and writer, Cheikh Ould Mohamed countries have actually abolished ‘blasphemy’ laws apostasy in April 2018. High-profile ‘blasphemy’ MKheitir, whom we have been campaigning on behalf in the past five years. But it also warns of a growing prosecutions are cited as cause for concern in of since his imprisonment in 2013 was released after a divide on the issue globally. At least 69 countries still Indonesia, as is the backlash against demonstrators pardon from the President. retain such laws, and their penalties and prosecution protesting forced hijab in Iran, and prosecutions and are hardening in a number of states. States such as You might remember the Director of Advocacy met his lawyers intercommunal violence related to Hindutva beliefs Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are noted as “perennial” when in Mauritania in April 2018. His is a case we have lobbied demonstrates a deteriorating situation in India. blasphemy prosecutors. Despite the well-publicised on consistently for years. Cheikh is now in the process of seeking Europe does not entirely escape criticism, despite release of Christian farm-worker Asia Bibi, the ongoing asylum in France. The Director of Advocacy met him in Paris the overall positive trend in the region, with Italy imprisonment of several accused atheists and many and attended a meeting at the Asylum Centre with him. We also and Spain singled out for prosecutions against others in Pakistan, as well as extra-judicial violence mobilised our network to help him find safe accommodation. artists and protesters in recent years. against both humanists and religious minorities related to blasphemy accusations is condemned. 20 Our members Our members 21

Our members

DK At the end of 2019, New members 1 SE 1 Humanists International’s in 2019: Members LU 1 NO NO Associates 2 1 ratified membership was: „Taip“ kitaip FI 2 Atheists Union NE NE Members: 43 3 1 AT 1 RU Bogota’s Atheist Association PL 1 BE Associates: 84 1 2 Centre for Youth Empowerment HR and Civic Education CA CA IE IE 1 LT Total: 127 1 1 4 2 UK UK 1 CY Children’s Spaces 14 2 1 DE DE 1 3 SK Council of Ex-Muslims of Sri Lanka 1 IS 1 RO RO Filipino Freethinkers 1 1 TR Foundation ADFP FR FR FR 1 3 2 1 CH Hispanic American Freethinkers 1

RS Humanists & Atheists of Zambia US US ES 1 6 3 1 Humanists Liberia IT IT PT GR IL 1 1 1 1 IR Humanists on Kiva 2 1 PK MX 3 Mumbai 1 PR PR UG UG GT 1 1 1 3 1 PH Rationalist Society of Australia Inc. 2 2 CR IN IN LR GH Sapiens Foundation 1 KE 7 1 1 1 1 MY CO RW LK 1 Secular Humanists Mauritius 3 1 1 NG NG 2 1 South African Secular Society ZM SG 1 1 Think School TZ PE PE 1 MU FJ 1 1 1 1 Turkish Association of BI 1

MW 1 ZA 2 CL AU AU 1 2 1 NZ NZ 1 1

AR 1 22 Growth and development Growth and development 23

Growth and Humanist Development Grants In 2019 we received a restricted donation to support the growth and development of humanist organisations in development developing countries. In June 2019 we launched a new special grants programme called “Humanist Development Grants”: three grants of £10,000 each, for a total of £30,000 to support the projects 2019 Humanist Training Sessions of three organisations in developing countries over two years. After our General Assembly in Reykjavik (Iceland) on The three organisations awarded are the following: 2 June we organised two parallel training sessions for humanist activists and professionals: one on humanist Humanists in Northern Uganda ceremonies and counselling, the other on humanist campaigns and communications. (Humanists NUg), to promote We recorded all panels and have made available online the in the region by organising seminars for videos of the humanist training on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLShpCAOKRO- teachers, workshops for students, and RRnBk5daJgxFzk7bSP6m-k other public grassroots initiatives;

Humanist Alliance Philippines, 2019 European Training International (HAPI), to create an online In mid-2019 we received funding from platform called The Youmanist Project the Norwegian Humanist Association (facebook.com/TheYouManistProject), meant to support our Growth & Development Plan in Europe. The meant to spread humanist values online rationale behind this is that by focusing some resources directly to where for the Filipino audience, especially for organised humanism is strong, it can lead the younger generations; to an ever increasing level of support for Humanists International; that by helping humanist organisations in Europe to Humanist Association for Leadership, grow, they will be able to make a larger Equity and Accountability (HALEA Uganda), contribution to organised humanism more quickly. to launch a campaign to legalize humanist We have used this fund to organise marriages in Uganda. the 2019 European Humanist Training, three different training sessions for our The Humanist Development Grants scheme was the fifth round European Members and Associates of grants made available in 2019, following Regional Hub Grants held in London, Oslo and Utrecht that awarded a total of £12,500, as well as the Young Regional Hub between October and November on Grants which distributed £16,500 to nine organizations, the Café three fundamental fields: Membership; Humaniste programme which offered 16 grants of £400 each and Communication & Campaigns; Humanist the Travel Grants to help representatives of our Members and Ceremonies & Counselling. Associates to attend our General Assembly in Reykjavik (Iceland) on 2 June, for a total of £6,100 awarded. More details below. For more info: humanists. international/2019/09/2019-european- humanist-training 24 Growth and development Growth and development 25

Café Humaniste Filipino Freethinkers – $6,500: In 2019 the Café Humaniste series of events Regional Hub Grants “Hello, humanists!”, a 21-episode podcast series with humanist activists from the Asian region, reached the record number of 18 events when including Nepal, , India, the Philippines, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea, etc. compared with six and eight events organised http://hmnts.in/hello-humanists in 2017 and 2018 respectively: Atheist Bogotá – $4,800: hmnts.in/CH-calendar In January 2019 Humanists International relaunched the third annual “Regional Humanist “The art of thinking”, a series of free courses on and critical thinking for 720 students 23 February, Uganda: Hub grants” programme, giving priority to in the city of Bogotá (Colombia) Why do people pray? applications coming from Members and Prometheus Society of Slovakia – $2,200: 22 March, Uganda: Associates in Asia, our priority region for 2019. Delivery of a secular campaign to inform citizens in Slovakia about the 2020 national census, Advancing critical thinking The grants programme provides a modest boost for through videos, posted leaflets, and the creation of a new dedicated web-portal 6 April, Philippines: projects aimed at promoting humanism or humanist Access to clean water is a basic human right campaigning, or capacity-building for humanist Humanist Association for Leadership, Equity and Accountability – $1,800: organizations. 22 Member Organizations from all over Creation of a website to train and manage humanist celebrants and to provide information on how 13 April, Uganda: the world sent their project proposals, for a total of to organise humanist ceremonies in Africa Religion and Morality $95,000, and on 20 March the decision was made to 27 April, Philippines: award five of them a total of $15,900 (equivalent Peruvian Atheist Association – $600: Humanism and knowing what is true to £12,500): Delivery of 2020 campaign “Exonérate Peru” (“Opt-out Peru”), whose main goal is to provide information to parents about current legislation in Peru and the legal procedures to opt-out their 7 May, Serbia: children from the Catholic teaching. Secularism in the Balkans 25 May, Liberia: Humanism and women’s empowerment Travel grants for the GA in Iceland 13 June, Nepal: Strengthening the humanist movement in Nepal I We awarded a total of £6,100 to help six representatives of humanist organizations in developing countries to attend our General Assembly in Reykjavik, Iceland, on 2 June 2019. 27 June, Nepal: Here is the list of grantees: Strengthening the humanist movement in Nepal II 14 July, Philippines: Preventing human trafficking and child labor 3 August, Liberia: Should we legalize marijuana? An open debate 5 August, Philippines: Tao – humanism and secularism in the Philippines 7 September, Uganda: Roslyn Naa Ayele Mould K. M. (anonymised Edwin A. Bulaclac Jr Religion, children and indoctrination Humanist Association of for security reasons) Humanist Alliance 20 September, Cyprus: Ghana (Ghana) – £1,250 Humanist Society Philippines International Will we ever get Church-State separation? Pakistan (Pakistan) – £1,250 (Philippines) – £1,000 1 December, : Promoting diversity, resisting discrimination 16 December, Poland: Secularism in Poland 22 December, Philippines: How humanists celebrate holidays

26 December, Lebanon: Rosa Eva Quiñones Gerardo Miguel Rivera Tucker Brent Lieberman Secularism in Lebanon Segarra Secular Chaparro Secular Bogotá Atea Humanists of Puerto Rico Humanist Association UPRM (Colombia) – £600 (Puerto Rico) – £1,000 (Puerto Rico) – £1,000 26 Young Humanists International Young Humanists International 27

Young Humanists International

Elections of new Chairs of Regional Committees 2019 started with welcoming the new Chairs of the Regional Committees: Danielle Hill (Asia) Viola Namyalo (Africa) Hari Parekh (Europe) Rony Marques (Americas) The Chairs had meetings with the President of Young Humanists International, Marieke Prien from Germany, received a hand over from the Executive Committee and were introduced to its bi-monthly meetings.

General Assembly Young Humanists Grants New structure On 1 June Young Humanists International held its 2019 In April 2019, Young Humanists International launched Taking on board the feedback from General Assembly in Reykjavik, Iceland. 25 attendees from for the first time the “Young Regional Humanist Hub the discussion at the 2019 General 14 countries were present and elected two representatives: grants” programme, to award activities, events and Assembly, the Executive Committee projects focusing on the promotion of humanism decided to take some steps forward Vice President: Jad Zeitouni from demens.nu, Belgium specifically for young people. with the restructuring of Young Secretary-General: Scott Jacobsen, Humanists International and worked 15 Member Organizations from all over the world sent their After the elections, all the attendees engaged in a very interesting on a plan to be implemented in 2020. project proposals, for a total of £33,000 requested, and on roundtable discussion around the structure and the strategies 16 May the decision was made to award 9 of them for a total of Young Humanists International. One of the agreements was of £16,500. to keep the Regional Committees, since they allow a more grassroots approach. The 9 grants awarded in 2019 include the organization of the 2019 Asian Humanism Conference, hosted by the Notably, Young Humanists International took part in the Reykjavik Humanist Society Singapore on 6 July 2019; conferences, Declaration on the Climate Change Crisis, which was announced on Check out our workshops and talks specifically tailored for young 2 June during the General Assembly of Humanists International. humanists, organised by our Ugandan, Zambian, Kenyan and Humanist Voices and Guatemalan Members and Associates; the publication of a feel free to contact us if YouTube channel on critical thinking and humanism for kids you want to contribute! in Spanish, created by our Colombian Associate Children’s Spaces; the publication of an introduction to humanism for https://medium.com/ teenagers, created by the Italian Member of UAAR, both in humanist-voices English and Italian. 28 Humanists At Risk Finances 29

Finances

Income 2019 saw a large increase in income of 70% on the previous year’s income.

Membership fees This increased income largely comes from Membership50.2% fees two sources: 1) a large restricted donation 50.2% of £60,000* for the purposes of growth Investment and development in developing countries, income Investment18.3% and 2) a large increase in membership fees income 18.3% from £121k to £161k. The £60,000 donation in 2019 comes as Donations in part of an agreed donation of £300,000 to kind 7.3% Donations in 2018 income be spent in five annual tranches of £60,000. kind 7.3% Restricted As well as this general rise in income, the income Restricted0.1% £242,775 organisation has also made some moves income 0.1% towards diversifying its income sources, Supporters and donations which is a key part of its fundraising Supporters 24.1% Humanists At Risk strategy. In future years we will wish to and donations make further moves to diversify and 24.1% grow our income. Between October 2018 and October 2019, we received over 130 bona fide requests for support. Of these 96 Membership fees Membership39.1% fees 39.1% were given assistance, signposting, Investment income reassurance and guidance or other Investment12.5% income 12.5% Donations in support. Of this group, 31 were kind 7.5% Donations in 2019 income kind 7.5% given enhanced support, in the Restricted income 17.8% £411,351 form of a letter of support, Restricted income 17.8% Supporters and donations funding, or significant advocacy Supporters and23.0% donations and legal coordination. 23.0% 30 Finances Finances 31

Expenditure Summary of Summary of 2019 accounts: expenditure Funds 2019 Funds 2018 £ £ £ £ £ 2019 2018 Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Total Fundraising 8.3% Governance 14.7% £ £ Income Governance 70,893 47,849 European Advocacy Membership fees 160,993 - - 160,993 121,881 4.4% Young Humanists Young Humanists Supporters and donations 125,553 73,240 - 198,793 76,560 Fundraising 8.3% Governance 14.7%0.8% International 3,014 2,633 African Commission Investment income 6,549 - 45,016 51,565 44,334 2.3% Growth and European Advocacy UN New York Total income 293,095 73,240 45,016 411,351 242,775 4.4% Young Humanists development 170,680 65,502 UN Human Right 3.7% 0.8% AfricanCouncil Commission 7.7% 2018 Communication 62,450 54,774 Expenditure 2.3% Wages and social security 176,248 - - 176,248 130,920 Campaign expenditure UN New York Freedom of General assembly expenses 6,401 - - 6,401 3,133 UNCo-ordination Human Right Growth3.7% and Thought report 27,214 20,877 Council7.7% 7.7% £325,654 development Individuals at Risk 29,385 23,245 Travel aid board members 8,925 13,200 - 22,125 18,037 20.1% Office expenses 31,498 - - 31,498 25,988 Campaign Campaign Finance charges 5,063 - 7,875 12,938 8,400 Co-ordination Growth and Coordination 33,922 24,948 Individuals at risk Website costs 22,311 - - 22,311 19,039 7.7% Communicationdevelopment UN Human 7.1% 16.8% 20.1% Right Council 30,929 24,971 Consultancy costs 45,093 - - 45,093 44,758 Growth and development 42,689 64,480 - 107,169 18,438 Freedom of Thought UN New York 15,545 12,187 Individuals6.4% at risk Communication Travel and representation 48,423 - - 48,423 46,526 African Commission 9,116 7,470 7.1% 16.8% Governance costs 18,189 - - 18,189 2,009 European Advocacy 17,744 14,312 Freedom of Thought Audit fees 4,620 - - 4,620 4,500 6.4% Human Wisdom - - Campaign promotions 3,154 - - 3,154 1,634 Governance 14.2% Fundraising 5.6% Dalit - - Fundraising 1,584 - - 1,584 2,282 European Advocacy Fundraising 27,861 26,886 Total expenditure 414,198 77,680 7,875 499,753 325,664 3.6% 498,753 325,654 YoungGovernance Humanists 14.2% 0.6% Net (deficit)/income -121,103 -4,440 37,141 -88,402 -82,889 AfricanFundraising Commission 5.6% before transfers, exchange European1.8% Advocacy UN New York 3.1% and investment gains 3.6% or losses UN Human Right Young Humanists 0.6% AfricanCouncil Commission 6.2% Exchange (losses)/gains -28,326 - -79,521 -107,847 144,583 1.8% Gains/(losses) on - - 391,733 391,733 -184,052 Campaign UN New York 3.1% UNCo-ordination Human Right Growth and investments Council6.8% 6.2% 2019 development Transfers between funds 75,000 - -75,000 - 34.2% Net Movement in Funds -74,429 -4,440 274,353 195,484 -122,358 CampaignIndividuals at risk expenditure

Co-ordination5.9% Growth and 6.8% £498,753 Communicationdevelopment Balance at 1 January 2019 244,344 310,332 1,988,380 2,543,056 2,665,414 Freedom of Thought 34.2%12.5% Balance at 31 169,915 305,892 2,262,733 2,738,540 2,543,056 5.5%Individuals at risk 5.9% December 2019 Communication Freedom of Thought 12.5% 5.5% This financial summary has been extracted from the company’s audited statutory accounts. Full details are available on our website. 32 Plans for growth

Plans for growth

Thanks to the continuing support of our Members and Associates, and supporters, we are charting a plan for growth in the long term. Over the coming year and beyond, Humanists International will be looking to develop new areas of work specifically into research and research collaborations with academics and practitioners.

Staffing Fundraising Ahead of 2020, we will be restructuring As an organisation Humanists International our staff team and hiring new positions, is very dependent on our Members and such as the world’s first Humanists at Risk Associates for our funding and support. We Coordinator, and a new Advocacy Officer would like to diversify the sources of funding to support the excellent work done by our we receive, and in 2020 have identified a Director of Advocacy, we will also develop number of government, as well as non- plans to hire a new Grants and Development governmental organisations, we would Officer to assist with the professionalisation like to request funding from. We will also and monitoring and evaluation of our work on new initiatives for securing funding programme. Thanks to the support of from individual donors, however we will be the Norwegian Humanist Association we mindful not to undermine or ‘compete’ with will also be introducing a new 6-month the fundraising initiatives of our Members paid internship, hosted in our office in and Associates. London – we very much hope this becomes an annual occurrence. Humanists at Risk In 2020 we will invest substantial funds and Governance resources into supporting Humanists at Risk. At the 2019 General Assembly, the Board We will develop a world-leading system of agreed to undertake a review of the monitoring and supporting, as well as using governing rules of the organisation, to this data and experience to feed into our ensure that they were fit for purpose and wider research and advocacy efforts. clear. This review will also include a review of the place of Young Humanists International Research and collaboration in the structure of the organisation. The We are keen to develop new relationships Board aims to report these changes to the and collaborations with academics and General Assembly in 2020. researchers who are interested in our areas of work. We would like to continue to develop the quality and impact of the research and advocacy that we produce, and to seek to work with others in doing so. Humanists International is a trading name of The International Humanist and Ethical Union, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization incorporated in New York, USA, and registered in , number FC020642. Humanists International, The Green House, 244-254 Cambridge Heath Road, London, E2 9DA. Email: [email protected]