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Gary and Leon open with updates from New York and the closing days of the UN Human Rights Council — including concerns about efficiency measures cutting special rapporteur reporting, and urgent debates around the crisis in Iran. Gary reflects on Humanists International's statement, reaffirming that concern for human rights in Iran and concern about US military action are grounded in the same principles of international law.

This week's guest is Javan Lev Poblador, Membership Manager at Humanists International, overseeing 120 member organisations across 60 countries. Javan shares his journey from a Mormon household in the Philippines to co-founding Humanist Alliance Philippines International (HAPI) and gives an inside look at how Humanists International supports its members through advocacy, training, and a grants programme that reached over 300,000 people in 2025.

In this episode we cover

• The UN Human Rights Council — efficiency measures and the Iran urgent debates
• Humanists International's statement on US military action in Iran
• Lawfare, amicus briefs, and why Humanists International is entering the legal arena
• Javan's journey from Mormonism to humanism in the Philippines
• How Humanists International supports members across 60 countries
• The grants programme — impact from Nigeria to Peru to the Philippines
• Membership growth in Africa, Latin America, and Asia
• How to join or start a humanist organisation

Further reading and references

• Humanists International statement on Iran: https://humanists.international/statements/
• Humanists International grants programme: https://humanists.international/what-we-do/grants/
• Join or apply for membership — Humanists International: https://humanists.international/members/join/
• Humanist Alliance Philippines International (HAPI):
  https://hapihumanist.org/
• Commission on the Status of Women — UN Women: https://www.unwomen.org/en/csw
• UN Special Rapporteurs and Special Procedures: https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures-human-rights-council

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This podcast is produced by Humanise Live.

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🎶Music: Horizon by Simon Folwar

Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation.