Amsterdam Declaration

The Amsterdam Declaration 2002 is a statement of the fundamental principles of modern Humanism passed unanimously by the General Assembly of Humanists International (HI) at the 50th anniversary World Humanist Congress in 2002. According to HI, the declaration "is the official statement of World Humanism."

It is officially supported by all member organisations of HI including:


 * Humanistic Association Netherlands (Humanistisch Verbond)
 * American Humanist Association
 * Humanists UK
 * Humanist Canada
 * Association humaniste du Québec
 * Human-Etisk Forbund, the Norwegian Humanist Association
 * Humanistischer Verband Deutschlands, the Humanist Association of Germany
 * Council of Australian Humanist Societies
 * Council for Secular Humanism
 * Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association
 * Humanist Association of Ireland
 * Indian Humanist Union
 * Sapiens Foundation, India
 * Philippine Atheists and Agnostics Society (PATAS)

A complete list of signatories can be found on the HI page (see references).

This declaration makes exclusive use of capitalized Humanist and Humanism, which is consistent with HI's general practice and recommendations for promoting a unified Humanist identity. To further promote Humanist identity, these words are also free of any adjectives, as recommended by prominent members of HI. Such usage is not universal among HI member organizations, though most of them do observe these conventions.

History
At the first World Humanist Congress in the Netherlands in 1952, Humanists International (then: International Humanist and Ethical Union, IHEU) general assembly agreed a statement of the fundamental principles of modern Humanism – The Amsterdam Declaration.

At the 50th anniversary World Humanist Congress in 2002, the IHEU general assembly unanimously passed a resolution updating that declaration – "The Amsterdam Declaration 2002".