There is still time to join us for the World Humanist Congress in Copenhagen this August

What is the World Humanist Congress?

The World Humanist Congress is the largest gathering of humanists from around the globe. The 2023 congress is being organized on behalf of Humanists International by the following five Nordic humanist organizations: the Danish Humanist Society (Humanistisk Samfund), the Norwegian Humanist Association (Human-Etisk Forbund), Humanists Sweden (Humanisterna), Humanists Iceland (Siðmennt) and the Union of Freethinkers, Finland (Vapaa ajattelijat).

The theme of the 2023 congress is “Building Better Democracies Through Humanist Values”. Democracy is threatened on many fronts in the world today. We will examine some of the threats but first and foremost we will focus on how humanist values and practices can contribute to building and supporting strong and well-functioning democracies. You can read more about the theme of the congress here.

Where and when is the Congress?

The Congress will take place in the center of Copenhagen, Denmark from Friday August 4 to Sunday 6 2023. In the days leading up to the Congress, there will be other activities too, if you wish to travel to Copenhagen early.

Who will be speaking?

• Sandi Toksvig, Danish-British women’s rights and LGBTQ+ activist, and prominent writer, comedian and broadcaster on British radio, stage and television, known from QI and The Great British Bake Off.
• Nazila Ghanea, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief and Professor in International Human Rights Law at the University of Oxford and Fellow of Kellogg College.
• Abid Raja, Chair of the steering group of The International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB). Member of the Norwegian Parliament and former minister of culture.
• Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe 2009 – 2019, former prime minister of Norway, president of the Norwegian parliament, and leader of the Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize Committee.
• Lars-Fr. H. Svendsen, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Bergen, whose books are translated into 30 languages. In 2022 he received the prestigious German Philosophical Book Award for A Philosophy of Loneliness.
• Hulda Thorisdottir, Associate Professor in the Psychology and Political Science Departments at the University of Iceland. Political psychologist who studies conspiracy theories.
• Sofia Näsström, professor political science Uppsala universitet, Sweden. Author of “The Spirit of Democracy: Corruption, Disintegration, Renewal” (Oxford University Press 2021)
• Oleksandra Romantsova, executive director of the Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties, Nobel peace prize laureate 2022.
• Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, Director of Iran Human Rights
• Zara Kay, founder of Faithless Hijabi.

Plus many more speakers and panelists from within and outside of the humanist movement. For the full list of speakers and program updates, visit the congress website here.