Destructive cults and sects

The following resolution was rescinded by the IHEU General Assembly on 8 June 2008 and is therefore no longer in effect.

The International Humanist & Ethical Union, assembled in Berlin 23-26th July, 1993, wish to express their grave concern about the growth of destructive cults and sects throughout the world.

Noting the authoritarian ideology of these groups, their aims of economic benefit and power, and their recruiting programmes targeted at young people; Condemning their methods of mental manipulation, which can be characterised as “brainwashing”.

Detesting the physical and sexual utilisation of manipulated victims that take place in many of these groups:

The IHEU regards the operations and methods of such cults and sects as violating human rights and rights of freedom, and therefore:

• Calls on national governments to make investigations into the activities of cults and sects to examine the condition and symptoms of their victims and to report to the United Nations and its organisations in order to initiate a condemnation;
• Appeals to the governments of the world to take action against mental manipulation that is harmful to human integrity;
• Calls on educational authorities to create preventative educational programmes;
• Encourages health care and social work personnel to contact voluntary organisations for information about the profiles and methods of local destructive cults and sects.

IHEU Board meeting 1993

Suggested academic reference

'Destructive cults and sects', Humanists International, Board of Directors, 1993