The second round of calls for applications for the Bertha von Suttner-Studienwerk (BvS) has begun: Students and doctoral candidates can now submit their documents for the Suttner Scholarship 2022 via the BvS website. Those who successfully complete the selection process will receive non-material and financial support.
The Humanist Association of Germany (HVD) has sent a seven-point paper on assisted suicide legislation to members of the Bundestag. So far, three inter-factional draft bills are known, which most members of the Bundestag are likely to find difficult to distinguish. They are currently campaigning intensively for the recently submitted proposal, which provides for the reintroduction of Section 217 of the Criminal Code, which was overturned by the Federal Constitutional Court two years ago. On the basis of its 30 years of practical and theoretical involvement with humane euthanasia, the HVD would like to help ensure that the MPs are able to adequately assess the drafts presented to them. According to HVD Federal Board Spokesperson Erwin Kress, it is crucial that the requirements of the Federal Constitutional Court ruling of February 26, 2020 are adhered to.
How do we, as humanistically minded people, deal with developments such as those we have experienced in the past year and those that are coming our way? Thoughts on the new year from the Board of the Humanist Association of Germany.
Issue 130 of our humanist magazine sheds light on the state of our democracy and asks what we can (and must) do to maintain, promote and defend this system. Read it now!
In contrast or in opposition to religiosity, religious activity and religious (pre-)rights, a “secular scene” is increasingly developing, from atheist organizations to “seculars” as groups in political parties. For some time now, there has been a reorganization in this scene. In addition to organizational issues and, above all, political goals, this may also be due to ideological reasons. In order to be able to discuss and evaluate the latter point, the Humanist Association of Germany presents its ideological foundation in a condensed form in the hope of achieving greater clarity and understanding.
There are new reports of human rights violations in the context of flight and migration almost every day. People seeking protection are dying at the EU’s external borders in particular. The Humanist Association of Germany calls for unconditional respect for human rights.
Our partner organization Humanists International is publishing its tenth Freedom of Thought Report today: a report on the legal and human rights situation of humanists, atheists and non-religious people worldwide.
On 19 September 2021, the former Coordinating Council of Secular Organizations (KORSO) adopted a new constitution and renamed itself the “Central Council of Nondenominational Organizations”. The Federal Board of the Humanist Association Germany (HVD) declares that it considers the far-reaching claim to representation declared by this Central Council to be inappropriate. The HVD sees this as confirmation of one of the main reasons for its withdrawal from KORSO in the spring of this year.
The commemoration of the Reichspogromnacht reminds us that this must never happen again. We humanists must always take a clear stance, always and everywhere stand up against anti-Semitic tendencies and structures and fight their causes. A statement by Erwin Kress, spokesman of the board of the Humanistischer Verband Deutschlands – Bundesverband.
On Sunday, October 31, 2021, our friend, colleague and comrade-in-arms Andreas Henschel passed away at the age of 65 after a serious illness. Andreas was committed to humanism for decades, for over 20 years he was managing director of the Humanisten Baden-Württemberg K.d.ö.R, and for several years he was a member of the board of the Humanistischer Verband Deutschlands – Bundesverband. With his passing, we have lost a passionate campaigner for a more humane world worth living in.
