Ideas A better world needs to be built on empathy: human rights scholar
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Aug 11, 2025 
Payam Akhavan, a human rights lawyer and former UN prosecutor, draws from his experiences with human cruelty to advocate for justice and empathy. He highlights the necessity of embracing our shared humanity to heal divisions, reflecting on personal narratives from his escape from Iran. The discussion covers the implications of Canada’s residential school system on reconciliation, the legacy of activists like Mona, and the urgent reforms needed in global institutions for a sustainable future. Akhavan argues that a compassionate world hinges on our ability to connect and act collectively.
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Empathy As Foundation For Society
- Payam Akhavan argues society must embrace our oneness and reject dividing ideologies.
- Replacing ideology with empathy is crucial to prevent demonization and large-scale violence.
Time For Visionary, Principled Leadership
- Payam insists we need visionary, principled leaders to confront global crises now.
- He urges leadership beyond short-sighted political calculations to avoid catastrophic forced changes.
Climate Change Is A Human Rights Crisis
- Payam frames climate change as a human rights crisis affecting life, displacement, and basic needs.
- He warns that 3°C warming could collapse civilization and cause mass extinction.
