This week’s guest is Alejandro Sanchez, the Human Rights Lead at the National Secular Society — an NGO campaigning for a fair and open society where people of all religions and none can live together as equal citizens.

Alejandro’s work focuses on protecting children’s bodily autonomy, particularly boys, from medically unnecessary circumcision. His advocacy has been featured in major outlets including The Sunday Times, The Mirror, the British Medical Journal, Community Care, and UnHerd — bringing much-needed attention to a topic that often sits at the crossroads of ethics, religion, and human rights.

Before joining the National Secular Society, Alejandro worked as a medical doctor in the NHS and holds an MA in Medical Ethics and Law from King’s College London — a background that gives him a uniquely informed perspective on both the clinical and ethical dimensions of this issue.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The ethical and human rights implications of non-therapeutic circumcision
• Why protecting boys’ bodily autonomy matters
• The tension between religious freedom and child protection
• How the UK can move toward a more rights-based approach for all children

Alejandro’s mission:

“Every child — regardless of culture or faith — deserves the right to make their own choices about their body.”

This conversation dives deep into ethics, consent, and compassion — exploring how we can balance tradition with the fundamental rights of children to grow up free from harm.

https://truuman.io/

https://thefoundrycic.org.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/lewishackney/

https://www.secularism.org.uk/uploads/ntmc-briefing-note.pdf?v=1760021008

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/religious-circumcision-potentially-lethal-campaigners-say-s7zwdknhj

https://www.communitycare.co.uk/content/news/non-therapeutic-circumcision-of-boys-is-a-safeguarding-concern

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/exposed-horrors-ritual-circumcision-baby-28990951