Yvan Dheur – Humanists International
We are living in a time of profound paradox. All over the world, a silent revolution is taking place in the privacy of people’s consciences. Whether we choose to call ourselves secularists, freethinkers, atheists, humanists or secularists, we now represent the fastest growing philosophical and non-denominational community in the world. Never in the history of humanity have so many individuals chosen to base their ethics on reason, empathy and science rather than on revealed dogmas.
Yet this numerical strength has not yet translated into equivalent political influence. While we are more numerous than ever, our freedom is, in many ways, more threatened than it has been in recent decades.
An alarming observation: the persistent hold of ultra-conservative religious dogma
The gap between changing attitudes and legal reality is striking. Despite our demographic growth, more than half of the world’s countries continue to have a state religion or maintain a legal system that is partially or entirely inspired by religious law.
Source: https://fot.humanists.international/
This situation is not just a matter of institutional symbolism. It has concrete and often tragic consequences:
- Persecution of dissenting voices: In too many countries, apostasy or blasphemy remain punishable by imprisonment or even the death penalty for non-believers.
- The decline of fundamental rights: Under the influence of religious pressure groups, we are witnessing a brutal challenge to abortion rights, LGBTQ+ rights and bodily autonomy.
- The erosion of education: Critical thinking is too often sacrificed on the altar of indoctrination, thereby hindering scientific and social progress.
The urgency of convergence: uniting to evolve
Faced with millennia-old religious institutions that are extremely well organised, funded and politically influential, dispersion is our greatest weakness. Our semantic nuances — the subtle difference between a militant atheist and a secular humanist — are certainly intellectually fascinating, but they must not become barriers to our collective action.
Why must we unite now?
- To have an impact on the international stage: Only a unified global structure can engage in dialogue on equal terms with major bodies such as the UN or European institutions to defend the neutrality of the state.
- To protect the most vulnerable: A global network provides logistical and legal support to humanists persecuted under theocratic regimes.
- To share our resources: Collaboration allows us to exchange advocacy strategies, educational materials and communication tools to counter dogmatic misinformation.
Strengthening our community is not a retreat into identity politics, but rather an opening up: it is the creation of a bulwark so that every human being, believer or not, can live in a society that guarantees their freedom of conscience.
Humanists International: our common home
There is already a catalyst for this union: Humanists International. This organisation is the global voice of the humanist, secularist and free-thinking movement. It works tirelessly to document discrimination and to bring our values to the highest diplomatic level.
However, an organisation is only as powerful as the commitment of its members. Each membership is a signal sent to world leaders: we are no longer an invisible minority, but a structured and determined movement.
The big event: Ottawa 2026
The time for reflection must now give way to the time for mobilisation. We need your presence, your intelligence and your energy to take a new step forward.
In August 2026, the city of Ottawa will host the World Congress of Humanism. This gathering will be much more than a series of conferences. It will be:
- A global crossroads where delegates from over 100 countries will meet.
- A laboratory of ideas to define strategies for defending secularism in the face of the challenges of the 21st century (AI, climate change, the rise of religious populism).
- An act of solidarity and resistance towards all those who, elsewhere, risk their lives for the simple right to say ‘I do not believe’.
https://www.worldhumanistcongress.org/
The call has been made: Do not remain spectators of history. For reason and freedom of conscience to become the norm and not the exception, we must act together.
Become a member of Humanists International today and mark your calendars for Ottawa 2026. Together, we will build a future where the law is no longer dictated by heaven, but by the common good and human dignity.
