In a submission to the European Commission on its new Gender Equality Strategy, Humanists International has called on the EU executive to take robust action to promote sexual and reproductive health and rights and to prevent gender-based violence, while also raising alarm about a well-funded backlash against gender equality.

Why do experts like Ronald A. Lindsay argue that morality predates religion and divine law found in traditional religious contexts?

The Sociedad Secular Humanista del Perú, with support from Humanists International, has revitalized its activities through youth engagement, academic events and new publications, marking a strong public comeback and renewed momentum for humanism in Peru.

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At Belgium’s Pukkelpop festival, deMens.nu celebrated 25 years of engaging young people with humanist values through their youth group Dwaalzin. Festival-goers joined in a playful game about equality, respect, and self-determination, while the group also honoured the victims of the 2011 storm with a floral tribute.

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Dive into bold ideas, powerful stories and conversations that put human values, reason and community at the centre.

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It's been a busy and productive time for Humanists International, and I'd like to update you on some key changes and upcoming events.

First, a heartfelt tribute to Elizabeth O'Casey, our Director of Advocacy for the past 11 years. Her tireless work has been crucial in advancing human rights and humanist values globally.

We wish her the very best. We are also thrilled to welcome Leon Langdon as our new Senior Advocacy Officer. Having served as Elizabeth's deputy for two years, Leon is perfectly placed to lead our advocacy efforts forward.

We recently had a fantastic and productive General Assembly in Luxembourg. The energy and passion were truly inspiring. Looking ahead, we're already excited for the 2026 World Humanist Congress in Ottawa. This will be an incredible global gathering, and you can be the first to know when early bird tickets go on sale in November 2025 by signing up for notifications here. 

As Elizabeth leaves the organisation at the end of the month, it would be remiss not to acknowledge the strides made for humanist values and human rights under her leadership. No doubt her exemplary work will continue in her next role, while Humanists International will continue to build on the incredible work she has done in positioning the organization internationally.

Both the 60th Session of the UN Human Rights Council and the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly are due to begin in the next couple of weeks. Both present great opportunities for advocacy amidst increasingly challenging times for human rights. As always, we remind our Members and Associates that our Advocacy Team is here to support and to raise issues of concern at the UN and other international arenas and so please do not hesitate to reach out - we have already begun working with several members on statements as part of HRC60. There are also opportunities to feed into reports on Human Rights Defenders and for those who have suffered torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.

There are also some events that will be available to attend online, including Geneva Academy’s Conversation with two UN Special Rapporteurs, including the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, and a discussion on recent cases around climate litigation, hosted by several organizations.

At the European level, our new European Advocacy and Research Officer, Jonas Skorzak, authored a submission to the European Commission on its 2026-2030 Gender Strategy. The submission highlights the need to center bodily autonomy, counter anti-rights actors, and platform evidence-based and inclusive approaches within the Strategy.

We are thrilled to share some exciting news regarding our new Membership Portal, which is now nearing completion! This portal is designed to enhance your experience and provide valuable resources.

One of the key features we are particularly enthusiastic about is the Knowledge Sharing Network. This dedicated section within the portal will allow members to opt-in and be featured as a resource for others. If you are willing to offer your support and expertise to fellow Members and Associates who may need assistance in major areas of our humanist work, we invite you to be a part of this initiative. This network aims to foster collaboration and mutual support within our community. We would greatly appreciate your input and participation as we finalize this feature.

In other important news, we would like to remind everyone that next month marks the beginning of the period for submitting your organization's financial information. This is a crucial step for us to accurately calculate your membership fees for the upcoming year. Please be on the lookout for a separate email that will provide detailed instructions and guidance on this process.

Finally, we encourage you to review your organization's information currently displayed on our website. Should you find any discrepancies or errors, please do not hesitate to reach out to us immediately at [email protected]. Your accurate representation is important to us, and we are committed to correcting any issues right away.

Thank you for your continued dedication to the humanist movement. We look forward to your engagement with the new portal and the Knowledge Sharing Network.

As our Casework evolves as part of the new strategy to support Humanists at Risk, we would like to encourage our Member and Associate organisations to inform us of any recent changes of Leaders or Officers.

Notifying us of any changes will enable us to provide individualised and dedicated support for Leaders and Officers at risk moving forward.