speeches

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War Crimes

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

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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

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Authoritarianism

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.

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Corruption

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

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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

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Authoritarianism

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

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Democracy

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

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Democracy

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.

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News

Irwin Cotler

Canadian Human Rights Icon Irwin Cotler to Receive Defender of Freedom Award

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

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