Sign up for the Humanists International Newsletter

This week, Leon reports live from Geneva at the UN Human Rights Council, where a special session on children in armed conflict brings the human cost of global conflict into sharp focus. Against that backdrop, Gary and Leon reflect on the US military action in Iran and what it means for the international rules-based order.

We are then joined by Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of Humanists UK and former President of Humanists International for a decade, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, global humanist growth, and why, "humanist values are ideal for our modern, plural world." Andrew speaks candidly about the recklessness of unlawful military action, the promise of a more globally diverse humanist movement, and why coming together in person at the World Humanist Congress still matters more than ever.

In this episode we cover

• Reflections from Geneva and the UN Human Rights Council
• What the military action in Iran and means for international law and humanist advocacy
• Andrew's decade as President of Humanists International
• Diversifying the board and growing humanism in the global south
• The World Humanist Congress 2026 in Canada
• The Resolutions Committee and why humanist declarations matter
• Why humanist values are uniquely suited to a plural, interconnected world

Further reading and references

• Humanists International Statement on the Crisis in Iran: https://humanists.international/2026/03/crisis-in-iran-opposing-state-repression/
• UN Human Rights Council: https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/about-council
• Humanists International Congress Declarations (including Oslo Declaration on Peace, 2011 and Luxembourg Declaration on AI, 2025): https://humanists.international/congress-declarations/

Follow Humanist International

• Sign up for our free Newsletter
• Support Humanists International
• Follow our Campaigns
• About - Humanists International
• Join us at the World Humanists Congress 2026

This podcast is produced by Humanise Live.

Start your podcast today, visit: humanise.live

🎶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.