The AHA Adopts Four New Resolutions in 2020
The American Humanist Association’s (AHA) Board of Directors has been hard at work this past year adopting four historic resolutions, a statement, and a call to action. This expansion in our policy—the most activity in any recent year by the board—not only asserts AHA’s values, but also informs our work for years to come.
Below are summaries of the resolutions, statement, and call to action that the AHA adopted in 2020:
Resolution on Food Insecurity
A lack of access to food poses long term consequences to health and wellbeing, and effects many people in the United States and around the world. Looking ahead, a number of environmental and economic factors will exacerbate food insecurity for years to come. The AHA’s resolution recognizes food security as “a fundamental entitlement to a minimum standard of living” and supports policies and measures that will ensure that attaining food won’t compromise other basic needs, the rights of workers to be financially and medically secure, the continuation of food assistance programs, community control over food production, minimizing food loss and waste, and strengthening environmental agencies to mitigate the effects of climate change on world food production.
The full text of the resolution can be read here.
Resolution on Income Wealth and Inequality
The AHA recognizes that humanists have the responsibility to work in support of economic policies that advance equitable treatment for all. In response to the growing income and wealth inequality in the United States, the AHA calls for a tax structure that reduces the tax burden for low-income earners and ensures equitable taxes on corporations and the wealthy, opposes predatory lending practices, increases the federal minimum wage, expands the Earned Income Tax Credit, eliminates residential segregation, creates wealth-building programs for low-income and working class people, desegregates education, decriminalizes poverty, financially compensates those who have suffered income inequality, and more.
The full text of the resolution can be read here.
Resolution on Gender-Based and Sexual Violence
Gender-based and sexual violence against women, children, and gender-nonconforming, two-spirit and transgender people is prevalent. The AHA affirms that all people have the right to live free of fear of gender-based and sexual violence. In the resolution, the AHA specifically supports equity in education, interrupting the school-to-prison pipeline, entitling victims to the full support of law enforcement, legislation that protects unregulated work, the decriminalization of sex work, the power of community-based solutions, punitive measures that hold corporations accountable for violence, and the right of states to mandate reporting of child abuse from those entrusted with the care of children.
The full text of the resolution can be read here.
Resolution on Equitable Taxation
In order to create a more equitable future, the U.S. tax system must be reformed. In pursuit of an equitable tax policy, this new resolution calls on giving businesses and wealthy individuals more tax responsibilities and unburdening economically disadvantaged people. It also affirms AHA’s support of tax incentives that lead actors toward humanistic practices, an overhaul on corporate taxes and taxes on the wealthiest, greater transparency in the finances of religious nonprofits, and other changes.
The full text of the resolution can be read here.
Statement on Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
In the AHA’s latest statement, we affirm that pursuing justice, equity, diversity and inclusion is a moral imperative for the organization and integral to our work as advocates. The AHA takes responsibility for being on the wrong side of justice in the past, and commits to holding ourselves accountable to ensure that equity is embedded in every aspect of our organization moving forward. We commit ourselves to working with communities that experience disproportionate harm to enhance our advocacy, and will create an environment that is inclusive, respectful, and equitable. By incorporating and prioritizing these principles and more, the AHA will be in a better position help protect and strengthen the rights and liberties of all people―a core humanist value.
The full text of the statement can be read here.
Humanists Call for Action against Systemic Racism
Humanism and social justice go hand in hand. The AHA calls on all humanists and Americans to do everything in their power to stand and fight the systemic racism in American society and the police brutality that is engendered by that systemic racism.
The full text of the call to action can be read here.