After fifteen years of leadership, Andrew Copson has stepped down as President of Humanists International.
Since being first elected as President of Humanists International in 2015, Copson has overseen the transformation of the organisation. Some of his major achievements include the democratisation of the General Assembly to ensure that members from all global regions had fair votes, the permanent diversification of the Board by legally mandating the inclusion of directors from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and the redesigning of The Amsterdam Declaration of Modern Humanism by adapting it to suit a 21st-century global movement.
Reflecting on his time with the organisation in his farewell speech, Copson said humanism remains a philosophy that unites people across borders in compassion, solidarity, and reason.
“Humanism, to me, is simply the best idea in the world,” he said.
“It is the empowering acceptance that we can find meaning and purpose in a life lived within the boundaries of this world and our own mortality but that we have the collective power, working together, to transcend all other boundaries to build a more humane, just, and compassionate world for all.”
In his final statements, he also implored members and fellow humanists to continue to be inspired, learn from each other and look outward.
“I believe the future of Humanists International is very bright because its foundation rests on the very best of human reason and compassion, and it will be built by the committed and tireless and resourceful humanists that are in this room right now and the many friends and colleagues with whom we labour in our own countries and globally,” he said.
Despite stepping down as President of Humanists International, he will continue to serve as the head of Humanists UK.
Read Andrew Copson’s full Farewell Speech to the General Assembly here.