GENEVA, April 27, 2023 — Some of the world’s most prominent Russian dissidents will gather soon at the UN Human Rights Council for the first major event opposing Moscow’s recently-announced bid to rejoin the 47–nation body, from which it was removed last year on account of its gross violations in Ukraine.
The Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, organized by a cross-regional coalition of 25 human rights groups, will take place on May 17, 2023, in Geneva, Switzerland.
Those testifying on Russian war crimes and abuses will include:
• Evgenia Kara-Murza, Human rights activist, wife of jailed Russian prisoner of conscience and opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was just sentenced to 25 years in prison for “treason” after he protested the war on Ukraine
• Anastasia Shevchenko, First dissident convicted under Russia’s “undesirable organizations” law, profiled in Oscar-shortlisted film “Anastasia”
• Andrey Kurkov, Renowned Ukrainian novelist, author of “Diary of an Invasion” on Russia’s war
For the full list of Geneva Summit speakers, addressing numerous urgent human rights situations around the globe, please see our media kit.
ABOUT THE 15th ANNUAL GENEVA SUMMIT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
For the 15th year in a row, the Geneva Summit for Human Rights will provide an essential platform to courageous activists from authoritarian countries across the globe.
The event draws a standing-room only audience of more than 800 participants — diplomats, UN officials, lawmakers, activists, and student leaders — along with international coverage in major media 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. Register here.
PRESS: ACCESS & INQUIRIES
Speakers are available for interviews prior to the event, and in person on the day of the event. For media inquiries or interview requests, please email media@genevasummit.org to speak with Pat Rose.
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Geneva Summit 2023 Speakers:
Yang Jianli, President of Initiatives for China, former political prisoner
Peter Yang, Son of Guo Feixiong, imprisoned Chinese “barefoot lawyer” and civil rights activist
Dr. Gyal Lo, Academic expert on China’s mass use of boarding schools to eradicate Tibetan identity and culture
Frances Hui, First Hong Kong activist granted political asylum in the US, Director of We the Hong Kongers organization
Qelbinur Sidik, Uyghur activist, witness to Chinese reeducation camp atrocities, survivor of forced sterilization
Fadzayi Mahere, Constitutional lawyer and opposition spokesperson arrested repeatedly in Zimbabwe
Nila Ibrahimi, 15-year-old Hazara activist who narrowly escaped the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan
Shima Babaei, Activist imprisoned for removing hijab, daughter of forcibly disappeared dissident Ebrahim Babaei.
Darya Safai, Belgian MP fighting for rights of Iranian women
Hadrien Ghomi, French MP outspoken for victims of repression in Iran
Alireza Akhondi, Swedish MP campaigning to designate IRGC as terrorist entity
Ali Ehsassi, Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee, Canadian Parliament
Dolkun Isa, President of the World Uyghur Congress
Songmi Han, North Korean escapee and survivor of extreme poverty, oppression, and abandonment
Marie-Claire Kakpotia, Survivor and activist fighting to end Female Genital Mutilation
Nevşin Mengü, Turkish journalist dropped from CNN Turk after she criticized President Erdogan
Melissa Mahtani, Journalist, former CNN producer
Abraham Jiménez Enoa, Prominent Cuban journalist forced into exile, grandson of the bodyguard to Fidel Castro and Che Guevara
Hasler Iglesias, Venezuelan youth leader, went into hiding to escape arrest by the Maduro regime
Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of United Nations Watch, on behalf of the 25 NGO co-sponsors of the Geneva Summit
Javier El-Hage, Chief Legal and Policy Officer at Human Rights Foundation
