HAI CEO Jillian Brennan attended the International Humanist Conference and General Assembly in Singapore from 30 August to 1 September. There were over 70 delegates from more than 30 countries in attendance and the theme was focussed on secularism and interfaith harmony. The Humanist Society Singapore, whose motto is: “Guided by reason, informed by evidence, and driven by compassion,” were gracious hosts. Attendees heard speakers talk about the importance of interfaith dialogue between worldviews, the shift towards a post-religious society in Muslim communities, protecting non-religious individuals at risk, and deliberate offence-taking and why we should be worried.

At the General Assembly, new Board members were elected, and attending delegates ratified and welcomed humanist organisations from Indonesia and Malaysia as new members of Humanists International. The HAI is a member of Humanists International, which is the global representative body of the humanist movement, uniting a diversity of non-religious organisations. The annual conference is an important meeting of humanists from around the world, as it provides a chance for us to learn about the vast diversity of humanist thought across geographies and an opportunity for organisations to cooperate across borders. Humanists International is a beacon of hope for those persecuted for their non-religious beliefs around the world. Today, more than ever, we live in a world of multinational decision-making, and this gives us a voice on the world stage, and much networking opportunities and supportive work takes place over the weekend.