GENEVA, February 13, 2025 — The Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, a cross-regional coalition of more than 30 human rights organizations, announced today that its Defender of Freedom Award will honor Professor Irwin Cotler, international human rights lawyer, legal scholar, former Canadian justice minister, and nominee for next year’s Nobel Peace Prize, for his renowned advocacy for political prisoners worldwide.
Earning an international reputation as “Counsel for the Oppressed,” Prof. Cotler has been targeted by regimes from the Soviet Union to the Islamic Republic of Iran for his defense of prisoners of conscience around the world.
His clients have included dissidents who were speakers of the Geneva Summit and Courage Award recipients, including Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was released from prison in August, and Saudi activist Raif Badawi, who remains barred from leaving Saudi Arabia.
Following a distinguished career as a McGill University law professor, recognized as an eminent scholar of constitutional law, international law, and human rights law, Prof. Cotler then served for many years as a prominent and energetic member of Canada’s parliament, and as the country’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General. Today, he heads the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights.
“A moral giant and champion for political prisoners, Prof. Irwin Cotler has dedicated his life to fighting injustice, defending the oppressed, and advancing human rights,” said Hillel Neuer, executive director of United Nations Watch, a co-organizer of the conference together with Human Rights Foundation, the Renew Democracy Initiative, and more than 25 other human rights groups.
In November, it was revealed that the Iranian regime was attempting to assassinate Prof. Cotler in Canada, and that he has been living for more than a year under intense police protection.
“There is no one more deserving of our Defender of Freedom Award than Prof. Cotler,” said Neuer. “He has tirelessly devoted his life to defending dissidents worldwide who dare to defy oppressive regimes.”
Irwin Cotler will be awarded the prestigious prize on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at the annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. The ceremony will be attended by UN ambassadors, former political prisoners, human rights activists, and journalists from around the world. He will address the audience by video.
Irwin Cotler: “Even in the face of tyranny, the voices of truth and justice will not be silenced.”
“I’m deeply moved and humbled by this award which I take to be in recognition of the cases and causes I’ve been privileged to engage in, as well as the heroic political prisoners, human rights defenders – represented at this year’s Geneva Summit – and the victims of injustice who need us to be their voice, all of whom have underpinned and inspired my advocacy all these years,” said Irwin Cotler.
“The liberation of these brave journalists, dissidents, lawyers, and community leaders can—and does—change the course of history. We must never stop advocating for their release from authoritarian regimes across the globe.”
“Although there is still much work to be done to free these heroes, the Geneva Summit inspires me because it proves that even in the face of tyranny, the voices of truth and justice will not be silenced.”
About the Geneva Summit
Irwin Cotler will speak via video at this year’s Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy to an audience of champions of human rights from around the world, including dissidents, activists, victims, and relatives of political prisoners from Iran, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Tibet, Russia, Eritrea, and more who will testify on abuses in their countries.
“The Geneva Summit of Human Rights serves as a global hub for dissidents, offering a unique opportunity to hear first-hand from frontline defenders of human rights, many of whom have endured brutal arrest, incarceration and torture,” said Neuer.
Videos of past speaker testimonies are available at www.genevasummit.org.
Admission to this year’s February 18th Summit is free and open to the public, but registration is mandatory. The conference will also be available via live webcast.
Speakers are available for interviews before the event. For a full list of speakers, please see our media kit.
For media inquiries or interview requests, please contact media@genevasummit.org.
