program

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China

The Situation of Human Rights in China

Bahtiyar Omer, a Uyghur rights activist and Chairman of the ‘Norway Uyghur Committee,’ addresses the 3rd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks    

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China

The Situation of Human Rights in China

Ti-Anna Wang, a Chinese-Canadian dissident whose father, Wang Bingzhang, is a prisoner of conscience in China, addresses the 3rd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks

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China

After Liu Xianobo’s Nobel Prize: The Situation of Human Rights in China

A panel including Chinese-Canadian dissident whose father, Wang Bingzhang, is a prisoner of conscience in China, Ti-Anna Wang; leading Chinese dissident and pro-democracy activist, Yang Jianli; Uyghur rights activist and Chairman of the ‘Norway Uyghur Committee,’ Bahtiyar Omer; Tibetan dissident and founder of ‘High Peaks Pure Earth,’ a website that

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Human Rights

Opening

Yang Jianli, leading Chinese dissident and pro-democracy activist, addresses the 4th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   Yang Jianli: Thank you Hillel. Good morning my friends and good day. I say good day because anytime friends join together to

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Human Rights

Introduction

International lawyer, diplomat and Executive Director of UN Watch, Hillel Neuer delivers opening remarks at the 4th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Ladies and gentlemen, welcome, my name is Hillel Neuer. I’m the Executive Director of UN watch. I have the honour

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Vietnam

The Struggle for Reform

Michel Tran Duc, Viet Tan activist, pro-democracy organizer, and the son of an exiled Vietnamese intellectual, addresses the 4th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Catherine Fiankan-Bokonga: I now give the floor to Mr. Michel Tran Duc from Vietnam, who arrived

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Human Rights

The Struggle for Reform

A panel including Viet Tan activist, pro-democracy organizer, and the son of an exiled Vietnamese intellectual, Michel Tran Duc; senior UN correspondent at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Catherine Fiankan-Bokonga; Zimbabwean human rights activist and Director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, Jestina Mukoko;  and one of the leading activists

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Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe Peace Protest

Jestina Mukoko, Zimbabwean human rights activist and Director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, addresses the 4th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   Jestina Mukoko: Good morning ladies and gentlemen. It gives me great pleasure to stand before you and

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Burma

Burma: Is What you See, What you Get?

Zoya Phan, one of the leading activists in Europe for democracy in Myanmar, addresses the 4th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Catherine Fiankan-Bokonga: We are going to start with Ms. Zoya Phan from Burma, who was forced to leave her

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North Korea

Defying Totalitarian Regimes

Joo-Il Kim, North Korean defector and the founder of Free NK, a London-based online publication aiming to draw attention to the Kim-Jong Un regime’s abuses, addresses the 4th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Joo Il Kim:  Hi, I’m a North Korean

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Tibet

Safeguarding Tibetan Culture

Kalden Tsomo, Tibetan activist and UN Advocacy Officer at the Tibet Bureau Geneva, addresses the 4th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   Kalden Tsomo: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Before I proceed, allow me to make a slight correction in

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Cuba

Why Cuba Jailed, Tortured and Exiled Me

Nestor Rodriguez Lobaina, prominent Cuban pro-democracy activist, addresses the 4th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   Moderator: We continue with Nestor Rodriguez Lobaina. As I said before, he is the  President of the Movement of Young Cubans for Democracy, who

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China

From the Democracy Wall to Tiananmen Square

World-famous Chinese dissident, RenWanding, addresses the 4th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   Ren Wanding: In 1989, I drafted [a] human rights declaration of China and I founded the China human rights coalition. I participated in the Tiananmen Square protest

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Human Rights

Blasphemy Laws and Honor Killings

A panel including, Director General of Calmann-Lévy Books and founder and President of Kero Books, Philippe Robinet; founder of Fondation Surgir, a human rights organization which supports feminist groups in Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Switzerland, Jacqueline Thibault; and French journalist, novelist, and screenwriter, Anne-Isabelle Tollet, address the 4th Annual Geneva

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Human Rights

The Dishonor of Honor Killings

Jacqueline Thibault, founder of ‘Fondation Surgir,’ a human rights organization which supports feminist groups in Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Switzerland, addresses the 4th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Philippe Robinet:  […] as blasphemy laws and honor killings, the “Fondation Surgir”, lives

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Human Rights

Blasphemy and Honor Killings

Philippe Robinet, Director General of Calmann-Lévy Books and founder and President of Kero Books, addresses the 4th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full Remarks Hilel Neuer […] by Monsieur. Philippe Robinet, who has come to us directly from Paris. Before I pass

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Pakistan

How the UN can Save Asia Bibi from Execution

Anne-Isabelle Tollet, French journalist, novelist, and screenwriter, addresses the 4th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   Anne-Isabelle Tollet: I am very honored to be here today and speak to you today about Asia Bibi. She is a 42-year-old wife and

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Human Rights

Beyond the Arab Spring

A panel including journalist and commentator specializing in the Middle East and human rights, Tom Gross; Iranian activist who was arrested, jailed, tortured, and physically abused by the Iranian Regime after taking part in the Green Movement demonstrations of 2009, Ebrahim Mehtari; and an Egyptian blogger and political activist, Maikel

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Egypt

Just Released from Egyptian Prison

Maikel Nabil, Egyptian blogger and political activist, addresses the 4th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   Tom Gross: We have with us in this session, two very brave human rights and democracy activists, one from Egypt and the other

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Iran

Iran: Jailed, Tortured & Abused by the Regime

Ebrahim Mehtari, Iranian activist who was arrested, jailed, tortured, and physically abused by the Iranian Regime after taking part in the Green Movement demonstrations of 2009, addresses the 4th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   Tom Gross: In fact,

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Syria

Massacre in Syria: Victim Testimonies

A panel including veteran war surgeon who smuggled himself into Homs in 2012 to help the Syrian people, Jacques Beres; Iranian freelance journalist and founder and Executive Director of ‘Foreign Policy Circle,’ Saba Farzan; and Syrian human rights activist who was arrested in 2011 for distributing pro-revolutionary flyers attacking the

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Syria

Tortured in Prison

Hadeel Kouki, Syrian human rights activist who was arrested in 2011 for distributing pro-revolutionary flyers attacking the regime of Bashar Al-Assad, addresses the 4th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   Saba Farzan: Hadeel is an incredibly courageous, young lady

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Syria

Victim Testimonies

Jacques Beres, a war surgeon who smuggled himself into Homs in 2012 to help the Syrian people, addresses the 4th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   Saba Farzan: Hello. Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Because we are the last panel

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Human Rights

Summit Opening

Hillel Neuer, international lawyer, diplomat, activist and Executive Director of UN Watch, addresses the 5th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   Hillel Neuer: Welcome to the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy.  My name is Hillel Neuer. I’m

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Pakistan

Women’s Rights, Human Dignity and Equality

Mukhtar Mai, Pakistani author, women’s rights activist, and victim of “honor revenge,” addresses the 5th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   Mukhtar Mai: I am thankful for the Geneva Summit and its organizers, and I am thankful to all the

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Iran

Women’s Rights, Human Dignity and Equality

Marina Nemat, Iranian author and former prisoner of conscience, addresses the 5th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   Marina Nemat: Hello, good morning. Thank you so, so much for your time and for having me here with you today,

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Democratic Republic of Congo

Women’s Rights, Human Dignity and Equality

Colette Braeckman, member of the Editorial Board of the Belgian newspaper Le Soir and expert on sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, addresses the 5th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks    

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Mauritania

Crimes Against Humanity: Slavery, Genocide and Concentration Camps – In Our Own Time?

Abidine Merzough, Mauritanian activist and European Coordinator of the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement, addresses the 5th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   Abidine Merzough: Ladies and gentlemen, I am happy to be able to inform

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North Korea

Crimes Against Humanity: Slavery, Genocide and Concentration Camps – In Our Own Time?

Dong-Hyuk Shin, advocate for human rights in North Korea and former prisoner at the notorious “Camp 14” North Korean labor camp, addresses the 5th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   Dong-Hyuk Shin: I would like to thank everyone for coming

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Sudan

Crimes Against Humanity: Slavery, Genocide and Concentration Camps – In Our Own Time?

Professor Mukesh Kapila, public health and international development expert, addresses the 5th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy remotely via a video message– see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   James Kirchik: Mukesh Kapila, who is a professor of Global Health and Humanitarian Affairs at the

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Syria

Authoritarianism: The Police State and Its Victims

A panel including Minister for Development and International Relations for the Central Tibetan Administration, Dicki Chhoyang; Franco-Syrian politician, journalist, anthropologist, and leading figure in the opposition to Bashar Al Assad’s Syrian regime, Randa Kassis;  Cuban pro-democracy activist and member of the Coordination Team of the Christian Liberation Movement (MCL), Rosa

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Tibet

Authoritarianism in Tibet

Dicki Chhoyang, Minister for Development and International Relations for the Central Tibetan Administration, addresses the 5th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   Dicki Chhoyang: Thank you for the very nice introduction. I want to start speaking about

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Cuba

Authoritarism in Cuba

Rosa Maria Paya, Cuban pro-democracy activist and member of the Coordination Team of the Christian Liberation Movement (MCL), addresses the 5th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   Rosa Maria Paya: I want to thank the first two speakers, because I realize

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Syria

Authoritarianism in Syria

Randa Kassis, Franco-Syrian politician, journalist, anthropologist, and leading figure in the opposition to Bashar Al Assad’s Syrian regime, addresses the 5th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy –see below her remarks in French, followed by the English translation. Full Remarks: French Bonjour, je vous remercie.  Quand on parle

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Cuba

Authoritarianism in Cuba

Regis Iglesias Ramirez, Cuban activist, former prisoner of conscience, and member the Christian Liberation Movement (MCL), addresses the 5th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks in Spanish. See below for English   En Mayo de 2002 por primera vez desde

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Panel

From Moscow to the Middle East: The Silencing of Critical Voices

A panel including one of Kazakhstan’s most prominent independent journalists and former editor-in-chief and reporter at Uralskaya Nedelya, Lukpan Akhmedyarov;  Moroccan human rights activist and intellectual, Kacem El Ghazzali; journalist and former Executive Director of the “Club Suisse de la Presse,” Guy Mettan; and Russian performance artist, political activist, and

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Russia

The Silencing of Critical Voices in Russia

Pyotr Verzilov, Russian performance artist, political activist, and founder of the news website MediaZona, adresses the 5th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   Extract from a September 2012 interview with President Vladimir Putin Reporter: I would like to talk

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Kazakhstan

The Silencing of Critical Voices in Kazakhstan

Lukpan Akhmedyarov, one of Kazakhstan’s most prominent independent journalists, former editor-in-chief, and reporter at Uralskaya Nedelya,  addresses the 5th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   Lukpan Akhmedyarov: Good afternoon. I am very sorry, I don’t speak English. I don’t

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Morocco

The Silencing of Critical Voices in Morocco

Kacem El Ghazzali, Moroccan human rights activist and intellectual, author of ‘Bahmut’, one of the most controversial blogs in the Arab world, adresses the 5th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   GS13 – The Silencing of Critical Voices in

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Cuba

Conclusion

John Suarez, Executive Director at the Center for a Free Cuba, adresses the 5th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   John Suarez: Thank you Hillel and I just want to say thanks to UN Watch for making this possible

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Human Rights

Welcome

Hillel Neuer, international lawyer, diplomat, activist and Executive Director of UN Watch, addresses the 8th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   TBC

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Political Prisoners

Opening Speech: Political Prisoners and The Legacy of Nelson Mandela

Irwin Cotler, Founder and Chair of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, Emeritus Professor of Law at McGill University, former Member of Parliament, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and international human rights lawyer, addresses the 6th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes