Summits
Nazanin Afshin-Jam, international human rights activist and President and co-founder of Stop Child Executions, addresses the 1st Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Nazanin Afshin-Jam: Good morning and welcome to the Geneva summit for Human Rights and Democracy. My
Professor Irwin Cotler, Chair of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights and former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, addresses the 1st Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Nazanin Afshin Jam: I’m happy now to convene our
Esther Mujawayo, therapist, activist, and Rwandan genocide survivor, addresses the 1st Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Esther Mujawayo: Thank you, Professor Cotler. I must say while Mr. Hamid was speaking, I was very uncomfortable because […] 15 years after
Dominique Sopo, human rights activist and President of ‘SOS Racisme,’ addresses the 1st Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Dominique Sopo: After these two presentations I would like to say that when you fight against racism – of course SOS
Gibreil Hamid, President of the Darfur Peace and Development Center and critic of UN’s inaction on the genocide, addresses the 1st Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Gibreil Hamid: Thank you for your nice clear message to all of the
José Gabriel Ramón Castillo, Cuban human rights activist, who was expelled from the University of the Orient in 1993 after founding the first human rights organization in the Eastern region of the island, and was arrested and tortured in the 1990s, addresses the 1st Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and
Marlon Zakeyo, a Zimbabwean lawyer and activist, addresses the 1st Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Bonjour, good morning, mangwanani, to all of the participants here. To my fellow Zimbabweans wherever they are and to all friends of Zimbabwe throughout
Saad Eddin Ibrahim, a prominent Egyptian social scientist, human rights defender and democracy advocate, addresses the 1st Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks As I was reading the program and the bios, I felt very humbled. So even though I
Soe Aung, a Burmese dissident activist campaigning for freedom in Burma, addresses the 1st Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Moderator, Ellen Bork: We turn now to Soe Aung, Burmese, dissident, and activist who was involved in the 1988 people’s
Gonzalo Himiob Santome, a Venezuelan lawyer, rights activist, and writer, addresses the 1st Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Good morning to you all. It is really a privilege for me to be here at the summit. Not only because
Pavez Sharma, an Indian filmmaker, author, and journalist, addresses the 1st Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Some of the largest and most bitter battles in this new century are going to be fought on the front lines of religion.
Ahmad Batebi, an Iranian activist and prisoner of conscience who later fled to the United States, addresses the 1st Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks So I will speak about things that have not already been said, and I will
Kristiyana Valcheva, a Bulgarian nurse who was wrongfully accused by the Libyan regime of participating in the poisoning of 400 Libyan children, imprisoned, and tortured, addresses the 1st Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks
Ashraf El Hajouj, a Palestinian-Bulgarian medic who was the principal defendant in Libya’s so-called “HIV Trial,” addresses the 1st Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks
A panel including former Secretary General of the International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY), Bart Woord; Belarusian and Estonian civic activist, media manager, and web producer, Pavel Marozau; international human rights activist and President and co-founder of Stop Child Executions, Nazanin Afshin-Jam; and dissident blogger from Bahrein creating virtual spaces
A panel including scholar and practitioner of international religious liberty law, Angela Wu; Senior Research Fellow in International Regulatory Affairs for The Heritage Foundation, Brett Schaefer; expert on US constitutional law and freedom of speech, Floyd Abrams; director, teacher, columnist, and the co-founder of the journal ProChoix who has previously
Francois Zimeray, international lawyer who has served as Ambassador of France to the UN Human Rights Council, addresses the 1st Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Nazanin Afshin-Jam: I’d like to present to you ambassador Francois Zimeray. He’s the
Alfred Moses, Chairman of UN Watch, former U.S. Ambassador to Romania, Special Presidential Envoy for the Cyprus Conflict, and Special Counsel to President Jimmy Carter, delivers the concluding remarks for the 1st Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. Full remarks Nazanin
Isabel Rochat, member of the Council of the Geneva canton between 2009 and 2013 and member of the Federal Commission Against Racism until 2012, delivers opening remarks at the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Hillel Neuer: On
John Suarez, Executive Director at the Center for a Free Cuba, addresses the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks John Suarez: Mayor of Geneva, Isabel Rochat, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I’d also like to point out that today
Yang Jianli, leading Chinese dissident and pro-democracy activist, addresses the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. Full remarks John Suarez: Mayor of Geneva, Isabel Rochat, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I’d also like to point out that today is
Rebiya Kadeer, is an advocate of greater autonomy for China’s Uyghur population and a human rights activist, addresses the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Rebiya Kadeer: First of all, I would like to congratulate all the women for
Phuntsok Nyidron, one of Tibet’s longest held political prisoners, addresses the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Phuntsok Nyidron: Good morning everybody. My name is Phuntsok Nyidron. I was born in Phenpo, a small village near Lhasa, the capital
Professor Irwin Cotler, Chair of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights and former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, addresses the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Hillel Neuer: We are going to begin our
Massouda Jalal, former faculty member at Kabul University, psychiatrist and pediatrician, and the only woman to run against Hamid Karzai in Afghanistan’s 2004 presidential race, addresses the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Dr. Massouda Jalal: Fellow speakers, distinguished
Matteo Mecacci, Italian Member of the European Parliament, elected official of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, and former Chairperson of the Italian Parliamentary Intergroup for Tibet, addresses the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks
José Gabriel Ramón Castillo, Cuban human rights activist, who was expelled from the University of the Orient in 1993 after founding the first human rights organization in the Eastern region of the island, and was arrested and tortured in the 1990s, addresses the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights
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: If they complain, they could be submitted to
Ko Bo Kyi, former Burmese student activist, political prisoner, and founder of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, addresses the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Ko Bo Kyi: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you very much for
Dewa Mavhinga, former Southern Africa Director of Human Rights Watch and former Regional Coordinator for the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, addresses the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Dewa Mavingha: Thank you and thank you to UN Watch and
Tamara Suju, a Venezuelan lawyer and human rights activist, addresses the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Tamara Suju: Good afternoon. First of all, I’d just like to say thank you to the coalition for human rights and this
Nestor Rodriguez Lobaina, a prominent Cuban pro-democracy activist who has been arbitrarily arrested more than 200 times, addresses the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy by video message as he is once again under arrest – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Néstor
Amer Adam Hesabu, a refugee from Darfur who has served as Chair of the Darfur Community in the UK and Northern Ireland, addresses the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks
Simon Deng, a refugee from Sudan and a survivor of child slavery, addresses the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks
A panel including a refugee from Darfur who has served as Chair of the Darfur Community in the UK and Northern Ireland, Amer Adam Hesabu; a refugee from Sudan and a survivor of child slavery, Simon Deng; and President and owner of the Geneva School of Diplomacy & International Relations,
Jared Genser, international human rights lawyer, and Paula Schriefer, former Vice President for Global Programs at Freedom House, lead a human rights skills-building workshop at the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks
Alexander Ntoko, Chief of the Operations and Planning Department at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), addresses the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Alexander Ntoko: Good morning everybody. I am usually not used to reading declarations but I
Robert Boorstin, Senior Vice President at Albright Stonebridge Group and a former Director of Public Policy at Google, addresses the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Chair, Bart Woord: And I mean, the search engine, I remember when I
Diego Scharifker, a Venezuelan pro-democracy activist and former leader of the country’s student movement, addresses the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Diego Scharifker: Good morning. I am immensely honoured to be with all you distinguished regional and worldwide
Duy Hoang, a Vietnamese-born American democracy activist who serves as a spokesperson for Viet Tan, an unsanctioned political movement in Vietnam, addresses the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Duy Hoang: Good morning, it’s great to be here. I
Ruslan Asadov, co-founder of Azerbaijan’s ‘OL! Youth Movement,’ which works to develop democratic leaders and disseminate modern and progressive values, addresses the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Ruslan Asadov: Hi. Thank you for the passionate presentation. As
Stéphane Bussard, former Le Temps US correspondent in New York, and Caspian Makan, fiancé of the late Neda Agha Soltan, who was murdered in the streets of Iran in 2009 for speaking up and protesting against the Iranian regime, address the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see
Stéphane Bussard, former Le Temps US correspondent in New York, and David Suurland, a Ph.D. and co-founder of the Foundation for Freedom of Information who has written extensively on political Islam, address the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks David
Shaheen Sariri, former representative of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI), a non-political and non-governmental organization comprised of advocates who defend human rights in Iran, addresses the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks
A panel including Indonesian activist and former Program Manager for Human Rights and Justice at the Tifa Foundation, Renata Arianingtyas; Susa Young Gates University Professor of Law and Founding Director of the Center for Law and Religion Studies at Brigham Young University, Professor Cole Durham; former Vice-President of the International
A panel including Associated Press reporter at the United Nations in Geneva, Frank Jordans; former Director of Communications in the Executive Office of the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Edward Mortimer; and International lawyer, diplomat, and Executive Director of UN Watch, Hillel Neuer, address the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for
International lawyer, diplomat and Executive Director of UN Watch, Hillel Neuer delivers opening remarks at the 3rd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Good morning. My name is Hillel Neuer. I’m the executive director of UN Watch. On behalf of our organization, the
A panel including French lawyer and former President of ‘Jeune République,’ Juan Branco; Sudanese activist and one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan,” John Dau; senior UN correspondent at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Catherine Fiankan-Bokonga; journalist and activist who served as General Secretary of ‘Collectif Urgence Darfour,’ Bernard
John Dau, Sudanese activist and one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan,” addresses the 3rd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Thank you very much Kristen for your nice introduction. I appreciate it. By the way, this is my first time
A discussion with prominent Venezuelan journalist and political activist, Miguel Angel Rodriguez, and international lawyer and associate counsel at the International Criminal Court (ICC), Ilana Soskin, at the 3rd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks
Nguyen Thanh Van, a French-Vietnamese exile journalist who was imprisoned by her government for association with the pro-democracy Viet Tan party, addresses the 3rd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Moderator: Thank you, Grace, for your comments. What’s incredible
A panel including international lawyer and associate counsel at the International Criminal Court (ICC), Ilana Soskin; a Zimbabwean journalist, human rights advocate, and key opponent of the Mugabe regime, Grace Kwinjeh; prominent Venezuelan journalist and political activist, Miguel Angel Rodriguez; and French-Vietnamese exile journalist who was imprisoned by her government for association
Jacqueline Kasha, a Ugandan activist and founder of ‘Freedom and Roam Uganda’ (FARUG), a lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and intersexual rights organization in a country where homosexuality is criminalized, addresses the 3rd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Karin S. Woldseth: Meseveni set
A panel including Tunisian blogger and activist, Lina Ben Mhenni; award-winning Egyptian blogger, activist, and writer, Mahmoud Salem; journalist and international affairs commentator specializing in Middle Eastern history and politics, Charles Super; and one of Egypt’s leading human rights activists, Executive Director of the Center for Middle East and East
A discussion with Iranian human rights lawyer who has fought numerous women’s and children’s rights cases in Iran, Mohammad Mostafaei; Norwegian politician and Vice President and of the International Federation of Liberal Youth, Naomi Ichihara Røkkum; and Chair of ‘Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights’ (TIHR), an activist group that gathers
Luis Enrique Ferrer Garcia, a Cuban dissident who received a 28-year prison sentence in the Black Spring crackdown of 2003 and was later exiled along with his family, addresses the 3rd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy.
Farid Tuhbatullin, Chair of ‘Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights’ (TIHR), an activist group that gathers independent information on the state of human rights in Turkmenistan, addresses the 3rd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks
Gwang-il Yung, a North Korean defector, survivor of a labor camp, an currently working for ‘Free the North Korean Gulag,’ addresses the 3rd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks
Yang Jianli, leading Chinese dissident and pro-democracy activist, addresses the 3rd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks
Dechen Pemba, a Tibetan dissident and founder of ‘High Peaks Pure Earth,’ a website that publishes English translations of Tibetan poems, songs, and other writings by Tibetans inside Tibet, addresses the 3rd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks
Exiled Venezuelan human rights activist and former political prisoner
Zimbabwean opposition leader held for 595 days in pre-trial detention
Russian anti-war activist and investigative journalist, founder of the Free Buryatia Foundation
Chinese dissenter, human rights activist, and former political prisoner
Gambian women’s rights activist and survivor fighting to end Female Genital Mutilation
Bolivian indigenous leader from the Sura Nation, member of the Bolivian Legislative Assembly
Uyghur activist who endured detention by Chinese authorities for advocating Uyghur rights
Cuban playwright and democracy activist
Daughter of Jamshid Sharmahd, fighting against her father’s unjust imprisonment and death sentence in Iran
Vice Chair, U.N Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
Member of Canadian Parliament, Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee
Tibetan-Canadian human rights activist and community organizer
Exiled Cuban art historian, writer, and human rights activist
Exiled Nicaraguan student leader, former political prisoner
Member of Ukrainian Parliament and founder of the NGO Yellow Blue Strategy
Swedish MP campaigning for the EU to list the IRGC as a terrorist entity
Exiled Belarusian opposition figure and chair of the Belarus Women’s Foundation
Mayor of Frankfurt, former political prisoner in Iran
Founder of Campaign for Uyghurs, sister of political prisoner Dr. Gulshan Abbas
British-Australian academic, formerly held as a diplomatic hostage in Iran
Geneva, 20 February 2026 — The Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy coalition today called on the United Nations to take urgent action following threats by the Government of Zimbabwe against Zimbabwean journalist Blessed Mhlanga, who addressed the Summit at the United Nations Office at Geneva on 17 February. After Mr. Mhlanga
GENEVA, February 9, 2026 — The Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, a cross-regional coalition of more than 30 human rights organizations, announced today that Marzieh Hamidi will receive the 2026 Geneva Summit International Women’s Rights Award. Hamidi was Afghanistan’s national champion in Taekwondo, and has become a powerful
GENEVA, February 21, 2025 — The Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, a cross-regional coalition of more than 30 human rights organizations, presented its Defender of Freedom Award to Professor Irwin Cotler, international human rights lawyer, legal scholar, former Canadian justice minister, and nominee for next year’s Nobel Peace Prize, for his renowned advocacy
Media Mentions of the 2025 Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy For information about our 2025 speakers, videos, photos, transcripts, quotes, and more, click here. Reuters article on Sebastien Lai: “Jimmy Lai’s son urges US, UK to get father out of Hong Kong jail”. Also published in The Straits
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
Dr. Massouda Jalal (right) with daughter Husna Jalal (left) photographed after being exiled to the Netherlands (Photo: Marieke van der Velden) GENEVA, February 13, 2025 — A cross-regional coalition of more than 30 human rights organizations announced today that Dr. Massouda Jalal and her daughter Husna Jalal will receive the
GENEVA, February 11, 2025 — The Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, a cross-regional coalition of more than 30 human rights organizations, announced today that its prestigious Courage Award will this year honor Venezuelan President-Elect Edmundo González and opposition leader María Corina Machado for their inspiring leadership in struggling
GENEVA, January 8, 2025 — Leading dissidents and courageous activists worldwide will gather in Geneva, Switzerland, on February 18, 2025, for the Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy at the Centre International de Conférences Genève. The Summit, hosted by a coalition of over 25 human rights organizations, will showcase the voices