Lester Shum

Call to Action

Brandon Silver, international human rights lawyer, 2024 Magnitsky Award laureate, and the Director of Policy & Projects at the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2026.

Afghanistan

Presentation of the 2026 International Women’s Rights Award

Sophia Aram, French comedian and actress, presents the International Women’s Rights Award at the 18th annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy to Marzieh Hamidi, Afghan-Iranian taekwondo athlete and advocate for women’s rights in Afghanistan. Full Prepared Remarks: Excellencies, human rights defenders, distinguished guests, It is an honor

Russia

Defying the Kremlin’s Propaganda Machine

Marina Ovsyannikova, Russian journalist who famously interrupted a live state TV news broadcast with a sign protesting Putin’s war on Ukraine, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18, 2026. Full Prepared Remarks: I am a journalist from Russia. For more than twenty

Uganda

Uganda in Crisis: Presidential Candidate in Hiding

Bobi Wine, presidential candidate in Uganda’s January 2026 elections, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18, 2026.

Cuba

Art and Resistance: Standing Up to Cuba’s Dictatorship

Yunior García Aguilera, Cuban playwright and democracy activist, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18, 2026. Full Prepared Remarks: My name is Yunior. Just junior. I was born in Cuba in 1982. The generation before mine had names inspired by Soviet culture.

Russia

Empty Chair: Russian Political Prisoner Mikhail Kriger

Kai Maresca, a student at Ecole Moser in Geneva, presented the empty chair for Mikhail Kriger at the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2026. Full Remarks: My name is Kai Maresca, and I am a student at Ecole Moser in Geneva. The empty

Venezuela

Panel: Combating Transnational Repression

Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch, moderated a discussion with Masih Alinejad and Leopoldo López at the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2026. Masih Alinejad is an Iranian journalist, women’s rights activist, and repeated target of attempted assassinations. Leopoldo López is a

Iran

Presentation of the 2026 Courage Award

Alice Teodorescu Måwe, Swedish member of the European Parliament, delivers her remarks as she presents the 2026 Geneva Summit Courage Award to Masih Alinejad on behalf of the heroes of Iran. Full Prepared Remarks: Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Thank you for this invitation. It is a great honour

Sudan

Sudan Atrocities: Seeking Accountability

Mutasim Ali, Sudanese human rights advocate and Legal Advisor at the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy by video on February 18, 2026. Full Prepared Remarks: Hello everyone, I regret that I was unable to attend the Summit

Tibet

Empty Chair: Kidnapped at Age Six, the Story of the 11th Panchen Lama

Kiran Tirado, a student at Institut Florimont in Geneva, presented the empty chair for the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, at the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2026. Full Remarks: My name is Kiran Tirado, and I am a student at Institut

North Korea

Escaping North Korea to Freedom

Kim Yumi, North Korean defector who escaped by boat to South Korea with her family in 2023, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18, 2026. Full Prepared Remarks: Hello. It is my honour to stand here today and meet all of you.

Vietnam

The Price of Exposing Corruption in Vietnam

Huệ Như, Vietnamese pro-democracy and anti-corruption activist and former political prisoner, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18, 2026. Full Prepared Remarks: Hello everyone! I would like to invite you to listen to a story. This is not the story of a

2026 Welcome

Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of United Nations Watch, on behalf of 30 co-sponsoring NGOs, delivered the welcome address at the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Prepared Remarks: Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, Welcome to the 18th annual Geneva Summit

North Korea

North Korea’s Oppression

Timothy Cho, North Korean human rights activist and defector who was imprisoned four times in North Korea and China, addressed the U.N. Opening for the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 17th, 2026. Key Quotes: “Where is justice for the people of North Korea in

Venezuela

Venezuela’s Fight for Freedom

Pedro Urruchurtu Noselli, Venezuelan opposition advisor wanted on politically motivated charges who took refuge for more than 400 days inside the Argentine embassy in Caracas, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18, 2026. Full Prepared Remarks: On January 3, 2026, U.S. military

Belarus

2026 Keynote Address: The Struggle for Democracy in Belarus

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, President-elect of Belarus, delivered the 2026 Keynote Address at the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2026. Full Prepared Remarks: Dear friends, A few months ago, my children hugged their father again. For years, they had only memories. There was no communication.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s Fight for Freedom Is Not Over

Chloe Cheung, the youngest Hong Kong dissident on Beijing’s “Wanted Persons” list and Manager of Public Affairs and Advocacy at the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18, 2026. Full Prepared Remarks: You hear chanting.

Syria

Minorities Under Fire in Syria

Aram Aqil, Kurdish minority rights activist and a former ISIS hostage, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18, 2026. Full Prepared Remarks: Today, I speak as someone whose life has been shaped by discrimination, neglect, and exclusion. My name is Aram Aqil.

Afghanistan

2026 International Women’s Rights Award

Afghan-Iranian Taekwondo athlete and advocate for women’s rights in Afghanistan, Marzieh Hamidi, recieved the International Women’s Rights Award at the 18th annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. Click here to view the presentation of the award by Sophia Aram. Full Remarks: I am not here to tell you

China

Beijing’s War on Religious Freedom

Grace Jin Drexel, daughter of Pastor Ezra Jin, a political prisoner in China, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18, 2026. Full Prepared Remarks: On October 10th, my father, Pastor Ezra Jin, was arrested by the Chinese authorities along with 27 other

Iran

2026 Courage Award

Masih Alinejad, Iranian journalist and women’s rights activist, accepted the 2026 Courage Award on behalf of the heroes of Iran at the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2026. Click here to view the presentation of the award by Alice Teodorescu Måwe. Full

Zimbabwe

Silenced for Reporting: Zimbabwe’s War on the Press

Blessed Mhlanga, Zimbabwean journalist and former political prisoner, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18, 2026. Full Prepared Remarks: Last year, I spent 73 days in pre-trial detention for another man’s speech at a press conference I did not even attend. This

Venezuela

Venezuela: The Transition to Democracy

Leopoldo López, Venezuelan dissident, former political prisoner, and co-founder of the World Liberty Congress, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18, 2026. Full Prepared Remarks: Excellencies, distinguished delegates, January 3 changed Venezuela. It did not solve everything. It did not magically erase

Call to Action: Carrying the Torch of Human Rights Forward

Brandon Silver, international human rights lawyer, 2024 Magnitsky Award laureate, and the Director of Policy & Projects at the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: Congratulations President-elect Edmundo González and leader María Corina

Venezuela

2025 Courage Award

Edmundo González, President-elect of Venezuela, and María Corina Machado, Venezuelan opposition leader received the 2025 Courage Award at the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Click here to view the presentation of the award by Baroness Sal Brinton. Full Remarks: Good afternoon all

Venezuela

Presentation of the 2025 Courage Award

Baroness Sal Brinton, Member of House of Lords and Human Rights Chair of Liberal International, delivers her remarks as she presents the 2025 Geneva Summit Courage Award to President-elect Edmundo González and opposition leader María Corina Machado. Full Remarks: Ladies and Gentlemen, Liberal International is a proud, long-time partner of

Cuba

Story of a Survivor: Seeking Justice from Cuba’s Regime

Osiris Puerto Terry, a victim of brutality by the Cuban regime who was shot twice at the 11J protests, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks (Translated from Spanish): I am not a politician. I am not an activist. I

Venezuela

Fighting for Democracy and Human Rights in Latin America

Javier El-Hage, Chief Legal and Policy Officer of Human Rights Foundation, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: Ladies and gentlemen, It is a privilege to stand before so many survivors and human rights heroes today. I am not one

Eritrea

Eritrea and the World’s Longest Imprisoned Journalist

Betlehem Isaak, Swedish-Eritrean writer, and daughter of journalist Dawit Isaak who has been detained in Eritrean prison without trial for 24 years, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: Eritrea has been called “Africa’s North Korea,” “The Hermit Kingdom,” “An

Uyghur

Empty Chair: Rahile Dawut, Uyghur Scholar Disappeared by China

Petra Dillon, a student at Ecolint in Geneva, presented the empty chair for Rahile Dawut at the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: The empty chair on this stage is dedicated to Rahile Dawut, a world-renowned scholar of Uyghur folklore and

Sudan

Sudan’s Ongoing Nightmare: Preventing Further Atrocities

Niemat Ahmadi, survivor of the Darfur Genocide, Sudanese women’s rights defender, and founder and president of Darfur Women Action Group, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: Good Afternoon, everyone, I am standing before you today, feeling incredibly dismayed that,

2025 Defender of Freedom Award

Irwin Cotler, international human rights lawyer for political prisoners, legal scholar, and former Canadian Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, received the 2025 Defender of Freedom Award at the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: May I begin by saying how moved

Presentation of the 2025 Defender of Freedom Award

Vladimir Kara-Murza, Russian opposition leader, author, historian, filmmaker, and survivor of two poisoning attempts and harsh imprisonment, presented the 2025 Defender of Freedom Award to Irwin Cotler at the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Prepared Remarks: Executive Director Neuer, Your Excellencies,

China

A Tibetan’s Brave Escape from the Chinese Regime

Namkyi, exiled Tibetan activist and former political prisoner, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Prepared Remarks (Translated from Tibetan): May his Holiness, the Dalai Lama, live long. Let his Holiness the Dalai Lama return to Tibet. Freedom for Tibet. I

Iran

Blinded by the Regime: The Islamic Republic’s Brutality Against Protestors

Saman Pouryaghma, blinded in one eye after being shot while protesting, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Prepared Remarks: Hello everyone, I am honored to have this opportunity to speak with you today. My name is Saman Pouryaghma. I am

Iran

The Islamic Republic Murdered My Son for Protesting

Maryam Diyor, mother of Abolfazl Amir-Ataei, who was killed at age 16 by the regime for protesting, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks (Translated from Persian): Salutations to the Crown Prince, Reza Pahlavi. On September 16th, 2022, the Islamic

Iran

The Islamic Republic’s Crackdown on Dissent

Mahan Mehrabi, sister of Iranian political prisoner Mahmoud Mehrabi, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks (Translated from Persian): Greetings to all, greetings to the Prince of Iran. Greetings to my people. I would like to thank the Prince of

Iran

Panel Introduction: The Islamic Republic’s Brutality Against Protestors

Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Iranian-Canadian human rights and democracy advocate, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025 to introduce a panel session on the Islamic Republic’s brutality against protestors. Full Remarks: I want to express my deep gratitude to Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi for

Iran

2025 Keynote Address: The Struggle for Freedom in Iran

Reza Pahlavi, Crown Prince of Iran, delivered the 2025 Keynote Address at the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: Ladies and gentlemen, friends, and tireless advocates for human rights, Before I begin, I would like to thank the thousands of my

Afghanistan

2025 International Women’s Rights Award

Former Minister of Women’s Affairs and the first woman to run for president Massouda Jalal, and her activist daughter, Husna Jalal, will be awarded the International Women’s Rights Award on behalf of all Afghan women’s rights activists at the 17th annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy to Afghanistan’s

Afghanistan

Presentation of the 2025 International Women’s Rights Award

Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Iranian-Canadian human rights and democracy advocate, presents the International Women’s Rights Award at the 17th annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy to Afghanistan’s former Minister of Women’s Affairs and first woman to run for president Massouda Jalal, and her activist daughter, Husna Jalal, on behalf of all

Iran

Empty Chair: Ahmadreza Djalali, Sentenced to Death in Iran on False Charges

Mathieu Johansson, a student at Ecole Moser in Geneva, presented the empty chair for Ahmadreza Djalali at the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: The empty chair on this stage is dedicated to Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali, an innocent man facing execution

Vietnam

Borderless Repression: The Long Reach of Vietnam’s Regime

Van Trang Nguyen, Vietnamese democracy activist and survivor of regime attacks and transnational repression, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: Hello everyone, Hello to all who fight for freedom and human rights! My name is Nguyen Van Trang, a

China

The Campaign to Stop China’s Destruction of the Uyghurs

Rahima Mahmut, Uyghur human rights activist, translator, and singer, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. It is an honor and privilege to be here with you today. In 1989, I was one of thousands

Hong Kong

Sacrificing Everything to Save Democracy in Hong Kong

Sebastien Lai, leader of the international #FreeJimmyLai campaign and son of imprisoned pro-democracy newspaper publisher Jimmy Lai, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Prepared Remarks: Chinese New Year’s was just a few weeks ago. Since I was young, every year

Belarus

Empty Chair: Maria Kalesnikava, Political Prisoner In Belarus

Mathilde Gahier, a student at the Institut Florimont in Geneva, presented the empty chair for Maria Kalesnikava at the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: The empty chair on this stage is dedicated to Maria Kalesnikava, an opposition leader and defender

China

My Father’s Legacy: Fighting for Democracy in China

Times Wang, human rights lawyer and the son of Chinese democracy pioneer, Dr. Wang Bingzhang, who has been imprisoned since 2002, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: I remember the message from my aunt like it was yesterday: “Your

Russia

Surviving Putin’s Gulag: The Price of Dissent in Russia

Björn Stritzel, chief correspondent at BILD, moderated a discussion with Evgenia Kara-Murza and Vladimir Kara-Murza at the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Evgenia Kara-Murza is the advocacy director of the Free Russia Foundation, defending anti-war activists, dissidents and political prisoners. Vladimir Kara-Murza is

2025 Opening Address

Garry Kasparov, Vice-President of World Liberty Congress, pro-democracy leader, author, and former world chess champion, delivered the opening address at the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: Thank you to the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, and especially to

2025 Welcome

Hillel Neuer, executive director of United Nations Watch, on behalf of 30 co-sponsoring NGOs, delivered the welcome address at the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen: Welcome to the 17th annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and

Iran

2024 Courage Award

16th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, U.N. Opening, Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Iran

Presentation of the 2024 Courage Award

Brandon Silver, Director of Policy and Projects at the Raoul Wallenberg Center for Human Rights, delivers his remarks as he presents the 2024 Geneva Summit Courage Award to Aliasghar Ramezanpour and Pouria Zeraati on behalf of Iran International.

Iran

Abducted, Tortured, and Sentenced to Death in Iran

Gazelle Sharmahd, Iranian human rights activist and daughter of imprisoned journalist Jamshid Sharmahd, addressed the 16th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on May 15th 2024. Full remarks: My name is Gazelle Sharmahd and I wish I could be there with you today in person, but unfortunately we

Iran

Trapped in Tehran: 804 Days in Evin Prison

Australian-British academic freed after two years in Iranian prison as a victim of hostage diplomacy, Kylie Moore-Gilbert, addresses the 16th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for her remarks. Full Remarks: My name is Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert. I have very generously been invited back to

Nicaragua

From Captivity to Courage: A Journey From Nicaraguan Prison to Exile

Lesther Aleman, Nicaraguan student leader and political activist, addresses the 16th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for his remarks. *Vídeo y transcripción en español abajo Prepared Remarks: Good afternoon. I am Lesther Alemán Alfaro, I was born and raised in Nicaragua, and the fact

Bolivia

Fighting For Democracy in Bolivia

Toribia Lero Quispe, indigenous leader and member of the Bolivian Legislative Assembly, addresses the 16th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for her remarks. **Vídeo y transcripción en español abajo Full remarks (translated to English): I am in this forum because of indigenous women, and

Venezuela

Surviving Venezuela’s Torture Chamber

Victor Navarro, Venezuelan journalist and human rights defender, addresses the 16th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for his remarks. *Vídeo y transcripción en español abajo Full Remarks: In 2013 my life changed, specifically the day they killed my father. At that time Caracas, the

Cuba

Art and Activism: Fighting Persecution of Dissent in Cuba

Carolina Barrero, exiled Cuban art historian, writer, and human rights activist, addresses the 16th annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for her remarks. Full remarks: I spent most of the year 2021 held under house arrest. The flat that became my prison was bugged with

Bolivia

Courageous Journeys: Defending Human Rights in Latin America – Panel Opening

Pedro Pizano, Assistant Director for Democracy Programs at the McCain Institute, delivers his remarks at moderator for the Courageous Journeys: Defending Human Rights in Latin America panel at the 2024 Geneva Summit – see below for his prepared remarks. Prepared Remarks: Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Pedro Pizano and

FGM

2024 International Women’s Rights Award

Gambian women’s rights activist and survivor fighting to end Female Genital Mutilation Fatou Baldeh addresses the 16th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for her remarks. Full remarks: Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Members of the Press, Ladies and Gentlemen, good afternoon to you all. I am

Speeches