GENEVA, April 2, 2024 — Leading dissidents and courageous activists worldwide will gather in Geneva, Switzerland on May 15, 2024, for the 16th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy at the Centre International de Conférences Genève.
The Summit, hosted by a coalition of 25 human rights organizations, will showcase the voices of the world’s bravest human rights defenders, many of whom have suffered torture, and give a vital platform to family members of political prisoners who are struggling to free their loved ones.
Featured speakers include:
- Carolina Barrero, Cuban art historian, writer, and pro-democracy activist who faced repression from the Cuban regime before fleeing to Spain, where Barrero continues her advocacy work.
- Lesther Alemán, Nicaraguan student leader and activist who faced persecution after confronting Ortega in person. Alemán was held as a political prisoner before being exiled from Nicaragua in 2023.
- Lisa Yasko, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament at the forefront of Ukraine’s public diplomacy efforts following Russia’s invasion. Founder of the Yellow Blue Strategy initiative.
- Victor Navarro, Venezuelan journalist and rights advocate who endured arbitrary detention and torture for criticizing the Maduro regime. Now in exile in Argentina, Navarro developed a VR experience that shows what conditions are like for political prisoners in Venezuela’s infamous El Helicoide.
- Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert, Australian-British academic freed after two years in Iranian prison as a victim of hostage diplomacy. She endured solitary confinement and psychological torture at the hands of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
Speakers are available for interviews before the event and more speakers are set to be announced soon. For a full list of speakers please see our media kit. For media inquiries or interview requests, please contact media@genevasummit.org.
The annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy assembles hundreds of brave dissidents, human rights activists, diplomats, journalists, and student leaders, shedding light on pressing global human rights issues. It offers a platform for activists, former prisoners, and heroes to share their struggles for democracy. The Summit draws hundreds of attendees and garners extensive media coverage worldwide from major media outlets including CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, Le Monde, and TIME magazine.
Admission to this year’s Geneva Summit is free and open to the public, but registration is mandatory.
