European Humanist Federation
The European Humanist Federation (EHF; . Engl European Humanist Federation) is an international association, in which several dozen non-religious humanist, freethinking and secular organizations have joined forces in Europe. The EHF has its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. President of the EHF is currently the political scientist, sociologist and philosopher Pierre Galand.
Objectives
The association seeks to represent the presence and interests of its member organizations at European level, including through participation in the policy in the European Union. One of the key concerns include the advocacy of humanistic principles, the preservation or realization of the separation of church and state, human rights and non-religious people against discrimination.
According to its statutes, the primary tasks for the EHF part of the promotion of humanistic perspectives and foot ends on cultural, social and ethical values as well as the European cooperation for social and cultural progress. Other responsibilities include the implementation of cultural, educational and scientific events as well as promoting the exchange of experience and information between the associations that may contribute to the further " humanistic values " in Europe.
The activity areas also include issues that bioethics, education, marriage, drug policy and public broadcasting to have content.
Activities
To achieve its objectives, the EHF is working with Members of the European Parliament and participates in the Council of Europe and Intercultural Dialogue in the processes of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which have a relation to the issue of human rights. The EHF is officially recognized as a dialogue partner of the European Union, as the EU institutions are obliged by Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to an open, transparent and regular dialogue with religious and ideological communities.
Since 1993, conferences are held in alternating EU countries regularly that deal with social and cultural issues from a humanistic perspective.
The Association is working according to his own statement closely with the International Humanist and Ethical Union together who carries similar functions as the EHF at the global level and at the United Nations.
Construction
The Association consists of approximately 50 humanist, freethinking and secular organizations from around two dozen European states. Members from the German speaking include the Humanist Association of Germany, the Freethinkers Association of Switzerland and the freethinkers Organisation Austria and the Giordano Bruno Foundation. It has its headquarters in Brussels and is recognized as a charitable ( "non-profit " ) organization of the Belgian Government. The working languages are English and French.
The supreme body of the EHF is the General Assembly, which meets annually and every three years, the Board selects which manages the EHF between the General Assemblies. The board of the EHF chaired by the President Pierre Galand currently consists of 14 people. Vice President Staffan Gunnarson (Sweden). Representatives from the German-speaking countries of the Head of Education from the Humanist Association Berlin- Brandenburg, Werner Schultz, and Renate Bauer, president of the umbrella organization of free philosophical communities.
History
The association was founded in Brussels in 1991.