Human Rights Heroes to Unite for 10th Geneva Summit

Posted on: December 19, 2017

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 Human Rights and Democracy will hold its opening session at the Palace of Nations, the European headquarters of the United Nations.

The renowned Geneva Summit for Human Rights assembles hundreds of courageous dissidents, human rights activists, diplomats, journalists and student leaders to shine a spotlight on urgent human rights situations that require global attention, from Syria to Venezuela, North Korea to Zimbabwe.

Strategically, the event will be held days before foreign ministers from around the world gather across the street for the annual opening of the UN Human Rights Council.

Last year’s conference drew a standing-room only audience of more than 700 participants. International media coverage included more than 85 separate TV, radio and newspaper stories and interviews. The 2018 Summit is already slated to exceed last year’s impact.

The remarkable lineup of speakers for 2018 includes:

• Antonio Ledezma – Mayor of Caracas, Venezuelan opposition leader, former political prisoner

• Asli Erdoğan -Turkish novelist, former political prisoner

• Farida Abbas Khalaf – Freed Yazidi ISIS slave, author of The Girl Who Beat ISIS

• Irwin Cotler – Former Canadian Minister of Justice and MP, advocate for political prisoners

• Kasha Jacqueline – Ugandan LGBT activist, founder of Freedom and Roam Uganda

• Luis Almagro – Secretary General of the Organization of American States, former Foreign Minister of Uruguay

• Rev. Evan Mawarire – Leading Zimbabwean opposition activist, acquitted in November 2016 on charges of trying to overthrow Robert Mugabe’s government

• Vladimir Kara-Murza – Russian dissident, vice chairman of Open Russia

• William Browder – Hedge fund manager who lead successful campaign to adopt Magnitsky Act, a U.S. law sanctioning Russian oligarchs

• Wuilly Arteaga – Violinist who became a symbol of democracy protests in Venezuela

REGISTRATION: Click here to register now

NGO COALITION: CADAL• COLLECTIF URGENCE DARFOUR • DARFUR PEACE & DEVELOPMENT CENTER • DIRECTORIO DEMOCRATICO CUBANO • FORUM 2000• FREEDOM AND ROAM UGANDA • FREEDOM RIGHTS PROJECT • HUMAN RIGHTS FOUNDATION • HUMAN RIGHTS WITHOUT FRONTIERS • HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS IN IRAN • INGÉNIEURS DU MONDE • INICIATIVA POR VENEZUELA • INITIATIVES FOR CHINA • INTER-AFRICAN COMMITTEE ON TRADITIONAL PRACTICES • INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF LIBERAL YOUTH • LANTOS FOUNDATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS • LIBERAL INTERNATIONAL • LIGUE INTERNATIONAL CONTRE LE RACISME • NORTH KOREA WATCH • STOP CHILD EXECUTIONS • RAOUL WALLENBERG CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS • TIBETAN WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION • WORLD UΥGHUR CONGRESS • UN WATCH • VIET TAN

###

Victim Testimonies with Jacques Beres

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

Erdoğan, Journalism & the Elections in Turkey with Nevsin Mengu

Turkish journalist dropped from CNN Türk after she criticized President Erdoğan, Nevşin Mengü interviewed by journalist and former CNN producer Melissa Mahtani at the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for the interview. Interview: Melissa Mahtani We have heard some incredibly powerful testimony from our last

Human Rights

Do Human Rights Matter? with Alfred Moses

Ambassador Alfred Moses, Chair of United Nations Watch, addresses the 11th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On the battle for human rights in the world: “It has always been a battle between freedom and oppression.” “We had total oppression

Democracy

How To Topple A Dictator with Bobi Wine

Ugandan pop-star turned 2021 presidential candidate and opposition leader, Bobi Wine, speaks at the 14th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On deciding to speak out: “My fame wouldn’t change the reality – that I was just a boy from

Democracy

Belarus: Fearless in the Face of Tyranny with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Belarusian opposition presidential candidate and human rights activist who was forced to flee Belarus after rigged elections, addresses the 13th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On imprisonment of husband Sergei: “When our daughter asks where he

Human Rights

The Struggle for Human Rights in China with Joey Siu, Rushan Abbas, Tenzin Tsundue, Luke de Pulford

Full Transcript Moderator: Good morning. My name is Luke de Pulford. Friends, we have 45 minutes together and we need to use every moment of that time because as I speak to you from this podium the People’s Republic of China is perpetrating atrocities on a scale not seen since

Human Rights

Opening Speech with Hillel Neuer

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

Concluding Remarks with Alfred Moses

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

Next Generation: Youth, Eights Defenders and the Blogosphere with Ruslan Asadov

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

United Nations

Welcome with Hillel Neuer

Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch, addresses the 11th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On the UN Human Rights Council: “We meet only a few days after the conclusion of the main annual session of today’s United Nations

Authoritarianism and Dissent: 21st Century Horizons with Matteo Mecacci

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

How the UN can Save Asia Bibi from Execution with Anne-Isabelle Tollet

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

The 2023 Courage Award with Felix Maradiaga

Nicaraguan opposition leader and former political prisoner, targeted by the government on false criminal charges, Félix Maradiaga, is presented with the 2023 Courage Award at the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for his remarks. Full Remarks This is somewhat surreal. 90 days ago, I was in

LGBT Rights

Equal rights: Decriminalizing homosexuality in Uganda with Jacqueline Kasha

Ugandan LGBT activist and founder and director of Freedom and Roam Uganda, Kasha Jacqueline, addresses the 10th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On being openly gay in Uganda: “Our struggle needs a face because we want people to know

Human Rights

Summit Wrap-up with Irwin Cotler

Irwin Cotler, Former Canadian Minister of Justice, MP and advocate for political prisoners, addresses the 10th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. Summarising the work of the Geneva Summit: “This inspiring Geneva Summit has paid tribute to the commitment and courage

Presentation of the 2023 Courage Award with Javier El-Hage

Chief Legal and Policy Officer at Human Rights Foundation, Javier El-Hage presents the 2023 Courage Award at the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for his remarks. Full Remarks It’s my distinct honor today, on behalf of the 25 co-sponsor organizations of the Geneva Summit

Human Rights

Welcome with John Suarez

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

Viva Nicaragua Libre with Felix Maradiaga, Berta Valle, Melissa Mahtani

Nicaraguan opposition leader and former political prisoner, targeted by the government on false criminal charges, Félix Maradiaga, is presented with the 2023 Courage Award at the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. He is joined on stage by his wife and recognised Nicaraguan activist, journalist, and human rights defender, Berta

Political Prisoners

Time’s up for Autocracy with Effy Nguyen

Nguyen Trung Trong Nghia, otherwise known as “Effy Nguyen“, 22-year-old Vietnamese video blogger and son of detained Vietnamese human rights defender and pastor, addresses the 10th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On being a political prisoner in Vietnam: “During

Opening Speech with Markus Löning

Markus Löning, Chair of the Human Rights Committee at Liberal International, addresses the 7th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full Remarks Hillel Neuer: Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Hillel Neuer, I am the Executive Director of UN Watch, and it is

Political Prisoners

Held Hostage in Iran with Richard Ratcliffe

Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of imprisoned British-Iranian charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who was arrested in Iran almost three years ago while on holiday with her infant daughter, addresses the 11th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On the arrest and

Human Rights

Venezuela: Building Unity to Challenge Oppression with Hasler Iglesias

Venezuelan youth leader who went into hiding to escape arrest by the Maduro regime, Hasler Iglesias, addresses the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for his remarks. Full Remarks We humans develop a strong sense of belonging to our motherlands. And for me, that’s Venezuela. But my story

Human Rights

Introduction with Hillel Neuer

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

Presentation of the 2024 Courage Award with Brandon Silver

Brandon Silver, Director of Policy and Projects at the Raoul Wallenberg Center for Human Rights, delivers his remarks as he presents the 2024 Geneva Summit Courage Award to Aliasghar Ramezanpour and Pouria Zeraati on behalf of Iran International.

United Nations

Concluding Remarks with Hillel Neuer

International lawyer, diplomat and Executive Director of UN Watch, Hillel Neuer delivers day two opening and concluding remarks at the 13th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On the Geneva Summit: “The Geneva Summit provides a unique opportunity to hear testimony from

Human Rights Heroes to Unite for 10th Geneva Summit