The World Humanist Congress is held every three years and is the main event in the calendar of the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), which unites over 100 atheist, skeptic, and humanist organisations globally. It is attended by delegates from over fifty countries and is a three-day programme of plenary sessions with international speakers, workshops, leadership and campaigning training, and vital networking to make connections and build the global movement.
The theme of the 2014 Congress is: Freedom of thought and expression: forging a 21st century enlightenment. Freedom of thought and expression are two of the most vital human rights, drivers of progress and enlightenment now as in the past. Yet they are two of the rights most under threat in today’s world. We will celebrate freedom of thought and expression, hear how these rights are being threatened, meet some of their inspirational defenders and explore how the humanist movement can contribute to their defence. We will forge new contacts, strengthen our existing networks, and help to grow the global humanist movement, to eventually realise these freedoms in every nation of the world.
Speakers already confirmed include: Jim Al-Khalili, president of Humanists UK, Pussy Riot, Russian activists persecuted for political statements, Heiner Bielefeldt, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Sanal Edamaraku, activist persecuted for blasphemy, Jo Glanville, director of English PEN, A C Grayling, moral philosopher and writer on human rights, Leo Igwe, activist persecuted for exposing human rights abuses in Nigeria, Philip Pullman, author and storyteller, Simon Singh, campaigner for reform of libel laws in England, Wole Soyinka, activist and author, Peter Tatchell, human rights campaigner.