Summits

program

Human Rights

Welcome with Hillel Neuer

International lawyer, writer and Executive Director of United Nations Watch, Hillel Neuer, opens the Geneva Summit on behalf of the Summit coalition of 25 NGOs at the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. Full Remarks Distinguished members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the United Nations and

Human Rights

Opening Address with Irwin Cotler

Irwin Cotler, Founder and Chair of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, addresses the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On political prisoners:  “We have a responsibility to not only speak up but to act.” “It’s our responsibility

Russia

“Russia will be without Putin” with Zhanna Nemtsova

Zhanna Nemtsova, Russian activist and daughter of murdered opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, addresses the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On a resurgent Russian authoritarianism: “The title of the panel, as you know, is “The Return of Authoritarianism”, and

Russia

Exposing Putin’s Prisons with Anastasia Zotova

Anastasia Zotova, wife of jailed Russian dissident Ildar Dadin, addresses the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. Reading letter by her husband, political prisoner Ildar Dadin, then imprisoned in the Karelia prison: “On Sept. 11, 2016, they came to

Turkey

The Battle for a Free Turkey with Can Dündar

Can Dündar, a Turkish journalist jailed and exiled for his reporting, addresses the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On the family of human rights activists:  “We are in a big family of freedom fighters from all over the world here,

Human Rights

The Return of Authoritarianism with Zhanna Nemtsova, Anastasia Zotova, Can Dündar

Anastasia Zotova, Zhanna Nemtsova and Can Dündar address the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. Full Transcript Moderator: Thank you to all our three speakers. Our time is almost up, but before we leave the podium, I would like to ask you one more question – some of you

Iraq

Presentation of Geneva Summit 2017 Women’s Rights Award with Shirin

Shirin, a former Yazidi ISIS captive, addresses the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On her capture by ISIS: “First, the men and women were separated. The men had to stay in Hardan, including my brother…We suspect they were

Moderator

Introduction to Fighting Oppression, Defending Human Rights with Jared Genser

Jared Genser, international human rights lawyer, addresses the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On the Summit’s giving a voice to the voiceless: “What we’re gonna be doing is hearing from three people on the front lines about their own

Venezuela

My House is a Prison with Antonietta Ledezma

Antonietta Ledezma, daughter of former Mayor of Caracas and political prisoner, Antonio Ledezma, addresses the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On the arrest of her father Antonio Ledezma, Mayor of Caracas: “For the longest hours of my

The Philippines

Duterte’s Drug War with Chito Gascon

Chito Gascon, Chair of the Human Rights Commission of the Philippines, addresses the 9th Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks.  On the fragility of human rights and democracy: “The Philippine case is a case of how quickly institutions such as rule of law, human rights,

Iran

Iran’s Abusive Legal System with Taghi Rahmani

Taghi Rahmani, Iranian journalist and human rights activist, addresses the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On his imprisonment: “I was tortured physically many times but there are many prisoners that have suffered more than I have.” “I personally

Human Rights

Do Human Rights Matter? with Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses, UN Watch Chair and a former special advisor to President Carter, addresses the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On the legacy of the fall of the Berlin Wall: “After the Berlin Wall came down, and

Cuba

Art for Human Rights with El Sexto, Danilo “El Sexto” Maldonado

Danilo “El Sexto” Maldonado, a Cuban artist and human rights activist, addresses the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On persecution in Cuba: “I have been a victim of many arbitrary detentions, searches, confiscations of my art material

Venezuela

A Day in the Life of Venezuela’s Diaspora with María-Alejandra Aristeguieta-Álvarez

Coordinator of Geneva Summit coalition partner Iniciativa Por Venezuela, Maria-Alejandra Aristeguieta, addresses the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. Full Remarks Hello, I’m Maria-Alejandra Aristeguieta from Iniciativa por Venezuela. It’s a tiny organization based in Switzerland. For the past 15-17 years we have been fighting for Venezuelan

Tibet

Arrested for Demanding a Free Tibet with Nyima Lhamo

Nyima Lhamo, Tibetan human rights activist, addresses the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On her uncle’s unjust imprisonment:  “At the time of my uncle’s arrest, I was only 12 years old. I was hopeful that he would be

Mauritania

Ending Slavery with Biram Dah Abeid

Biram Dah Abeid, leader of the anti-slavery campaign in Mauritania, addresses the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On slavery in Mauritania: “I, a regular visitor to the hellish and life threatening jails of my country, where on

Presenter

Presentation of the Geneva Summit 2017 Courage Award with Astrid Thors

Astrid Thors, a former OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities and Finnish MP, addresses the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. Presenting the 2017 Moral Courage Award to former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed: “Mister President, your work shows how

The Maldives

Geneva Summit 2017 Courage Award with Mohamed Nasheed

Mohamed Nasheed, former President of the Maldives and Geneva Summit Courage Award winner, addresses the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On his abuse by authorities in the Maldives:  “I’ve spent the good half of my adult life in

Democratic Republic of Congo

Voices for the Voiceless with Médard Mulangala

Médard Mulangala, a Congolese human rights activist and opposition leader, addresses the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On the DRC’s crossroads moment:  “This is a critical moment in the history of my country because, in the next few

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia Uncovered with James Jones

James Jones, an award-winning documentary filmmaker, addresses the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On the reluctance of the outside world to condemn Saudi Arabia’s human rights violations: “Unlike North Korea and unlike ISIS, Saudi Arabia is not a

North Korea

Being a Banker to North Korea with Kim Kwang-Jin

Kim Kwang-Jin, a former banker to the North Korea regime, addresses the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On the emergence and operations of North Korea’s alternate economy: “Following the collapse of the global socialist market, an unexpected thing

Vietnam

Surviving Solitary Confinement with Dang Xuang Dieu

Dang Xuang Dieu, a formerly imprisoned Vietnamese human rights activist, addresses the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On what inspired his activism: I had witnessed injustices every day and felt like I had to do something. I looked

Speakers

Irwin Cotler

International Chair of Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, former Minister of Justice & Attorney General of Canada

Can Dündar

Leading Turkish journalist arrested and forced into exile for his brave reporting

Chito Gascon

Chair of the Human Rights Commission of the Philippines

James Jones

Emmy-winning documentary-maker, producer of Saudi Arabia Uncovered

Nyima Lhamo

Tibetan activist and niece of religious leader Tenzin Delek Rinpoche

Alfred Moses

Chair of UN Watch, former U.S. Ambassador to Romania, Special Presidential Envoy for the Cyprus Conflict, Special Counsel to President Jimmy Carter

Taghi Rahmani

Journalist, former Iranian political prisoner, and husband of jailed human rights activist Narges Mohammadi

Shirin

Freed Yazidi sex slave of ISIS, author of ‘I Remain a Daughter of the Light’

Astrid Thors

Finnish politician and former OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities

News

Press releases

Human Rights Heroes to Unite for 10th Geneva Summit

Human Rights Heroes to Unite for 10th Geneva Summit GENEVA, December 19, 2017– An international coalition of 25 human rights organizations announced today that it will hold its 10th annual gathering of human rights dissidents on Tuesday, February 20, 2018, at the Geneva International Conference Center. The 2018 Geneva Summit for

Press releases

Rights award goes to Maldives’ ousted leader Mohamed Nasheed, human rights icon

25 NGOs Give Rights Award to Ex-Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed Nasheed thanks Amal Clooney, human rights lawyer, for helping to free him Mohamed Nasheed today received the 2017 Geneva Summit Courage Award Click here for hi-res photos | Facebook photo album GENEVA, Feb. 21, 2016 –  A coalition of 25

Press releases

Today: Shadow U.N. Rights Summit Opens as Dissidents Defy Dictators

Today: Shadow U.N. Rights Summit Opens as Dissidents Defy Dictators Zhanna Nemtsova, one of today’s Geneva Summit speakers, with her late father Boris Nemtsov, former Russian Deputy PM assassinated in 2015 for his criticism of Putin. Just-released political prisoners to urge UN to address Russia, Turkey, Tibet, Saudi Arabia, North Korea,

Press releases

Venezuela y Cuba estarán en la mira de la ONU en reunión de presos políticos

  Venezuela y Cuba estarán en la mira de la ONU en reunión de presos políticos Tras ser liberado hace tres semanas de la cárcel en Cuba, el artista y disidente Danilo Maldonado “El Sexto” estará en Ginebra para testificar en la ONU. Activistas abordarán los Derechos Humanos en Venezuela,

Press releases

Venezuela, Cuba Under U.N. Spotlight as Political Prisoners Gather

  Venezuela, Cuba Under U.N. Spotlight as Political Prisoners Gather Just released from Cuban prison 3 weeks ago, artist and dissident Danilo Maldonado (aka El Sexto) will be in Geneva to testify at the U.N. Activists to address human rights in Venezuela, Cuba, Russia, Turkey, Tibet, Saudi Arabia, North Korea,