For Victory in Europe (VE) Day in 2025, Defence Humanists members will be joining with all people of good will from around the UK to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe.
For humanists, this anniversary is a chance to reflect not only on a victory for freedom and human rights over fascism and tyranny, but also on the profound human cost of conflict. It’s a chance to renew our commitment to a world at peace – sustained by democracy and universal human rights.
As the wartime generation grows smaller with each passing year, reflecting on the lessons from days like today becomes more and more important. They remain as valuable as ever: that peace is precious and must be protected, that authoritarianism flourishes when good people stay silent, and that even in the darkest times, the human spirit can endure – and prevail. These are lessons that we all must remember.
It’s also a day to reflect on the humanist values that guide our service and our lives. We place our highest hopes in humanity, and recognise that the world’s problems are human creations and therefore human problems to resolve. In this one life we have, it is up to human beings, through reason, compassion, and cooperation not only to shape a better world, but to promote and defend those same values. For the humanist, there is no higher power to set things right; only us, and the choices we make.
We remember everyone: those who fought, those who lived, those who died, and all whose lives were forever changed by the devastation of war.
Over 80 years ago, fascism posed a grave threat to these very ideals. It exalted authoritarianism over democracy, violence over dialogue, and blind obedience over individual conscience. It sought to divide humanity through hatred, racism, and nationalism, eroding the dignity and equality of the individual – principles that lie at the heart of humanism. As we remember those who fought against fascism, we must remain vigilant in defending these values, and embrace the moral responsibility to resist injustice wherever it arises.
We remember the words of British humanist and philosopher Bertrand Russell: ‘Remember your humanity, and forget the rest.’ This conviction – that being human is the source of our moral compass, and that liberty and justice must be universal – is central to humanist thought. These values are perhaps best embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Its vision – drafted in the wake of World War II – is our vision today: a world where each person can live freely, think openly, and be treated with fairness, whatever their background or beliefs.
So, on this 80th anniversary of VE Day, remembrance must also be a commitment. A commitment to resist hatred and division in all its forms, to speak out where rights are threatened, and to uphold the values of liberty, justice, and equality for which so many gave their lives. For humanists in the armed forces and beyond, this is not just history – it is a living responsibility.
In remembering the past, we shape the future.
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For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson at press@humanists.uk or phone 020 7324 3072 or 020 3675 0959.
Defence Humanists is the section of Humanists UK that brings together service personnel, veterans, Ministry of Defence staff, and their families to represent the interests of the non-religious in the armed forces. It organises events and community activities for its members and leads Humanists UK’s participation in Remembrance Day events and similar activities around the UK. Since 2018, members of Defence Humanists have been represented in the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph.
Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by 140,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.