To mark the occasion, we have launched our updated Declaration of Modern Humanism; the Amsterdam Declaration 2022. The declaration sets out the values and principles which unite our global movement, as agreed by Members and Associates of Humanists International from around the world, at the 2022 General Assembly in Glasgow.
As part of the celebrations, we have also created a new video for Members and supporters to share on social media.
Andrew Copson, President of Humanists International, commented:
“In 1952, at the first World Humanist Congress, the founders of Humanists International agreed on a statement of the fundamental principles of modern Humanism. They called it “The Amsterdam Declaration. Of course, the world has changed significantly since then, and in keeping with the democratic and progressive values of the organization and movement, the declaration has been reviewed and updated over the years. While opinions and definitions of humanism may differ slightly from person to person, or between organizations and groups, the Amsterdam Declaration is adopted by all Members and Associates of Humanists International, as our definitive guiding principles”
Humanist beliefs and values are as old as civilization and have a history in most societies around the world. Modern humanism is the culmination of these long traditions of reasoning about meaning and ethics, the source of inspiration for many of the world’s great thinkers, artists, and humanitarians, and is interwoven with the rise of modern science. As a global humanist movement, we seek to make all people aware of these essentials of the humanist worldview:
With the help of our Members around the world, the Amsterdam Declaration 2002 was eventually translated in 37 languages. We are now encouraging our Members and Associates to submit their translations once again. Please email our Membership Development Officer to find out how.
Our movement has achieved so much for humanists over the past 70 years but there is still a great deal to do. If you share our values, please consider joining us as Member, Associate or individual supporter today. With your help, we can continue to campaign on humanist issues, lobby for humanist values at international institutions (including the UN) and protect humanists at risk of persecution and violence. Together, we can build a kinder, more ethical and more rational world.