Search

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 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

###

Related

Democracy

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

Political Prisoners

Our Responsibility to Political Prisoners with Irwin Cotler

Irwin Cotler, former Canadian Minister of Justice and MP and founder of the Raoul Wallenberg Center for Human Rights, addresses the 12th Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy — see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On Raoul Wallenberg: “One person with the compassion to care and the

Women's Rights

2025 International Women’s Rights Award with Massouda Jalal, Husna Jalal

Former Minister of Women’s Affairs and the first woman to run for president Massouda Jalal, and her activist daughter, Husna Jalal, will be awarded the International Women’s Rights Award on behalf of all Afghan women’s rights activists at the 17th annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy to Afghanistan’s

Political Prisoners

Escaping Arrest in Venezuela with Antonio Ledezma

Antonio Ledezma, Venezuelan opposition leader and political prisoner who escaped in November 2017, addresses the 10th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On being an opposition leader in Venezuela: “In January 2014 we took to the streets and a wrote

Yazidi Genocide

Presentation of Geneva Summit 2016 Women’s Rights Award with Anne Brasseur

Anne Brasseur, former President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, awards Vian Dakhil and Dr. Jan Ilhan Kizilhan the Geneva Summit Women’s Rights Award at the 8th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On the threat of

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

Democracy

After the Arab Spring with Fouzia Elbayed

Fouzia Elbayed, Moroccan women’s rights advocate and former Member of Parliament, addresses the 7th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full Remarks Hillel Neuer: Elbayed is a member of parliament in Morocco. She is the founder of the Network of Parliamentarians Against the Death

Political Prisoners

North Korea: Escape from Starvation, Torture, Persecution with Jihyun Park

Jihyun Park, two-time North Korean escapee and human rights activist who survived a North Korean forced labor camp, addresses the 13th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On life in North Korea: “North Koreans are stripped of their individuality

Women's Rights

Ending Child Marriage with Memory Banda

Memory Banda, leading Malawian rights activist fighting to end child marriage and harmful practices against girls, recipient of the International Youth Student Award and the UN’s Young Activist Award, addresses the 12th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy — see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On

Authoritarianism

Voices for the Voiceless with Daniel Mekonen

Daniel Mekonnen, Eritrean human rights lawyer and scholar, addresses the 8th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On the importance of the Geneva Summit: “I feel very honoured to have the opportunity of speaking in front of you today, in

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

Democracy

How to Build a Safer World with Michael Levitt

Michael Levitt, Canadian MP and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, addresses the 11th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On the need for advocacy: “Unfortunately, we are seeing a resurgence of gross human rights violations around the word…And the

Women’s Rights, Human Dignity and Equality with Colette Braeckman

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    

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

Democracy

Presentation of Geneva Summit 2018 Courage Award with Vladimir Kara-Murza

Russian democracy dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza receives the Geneva Summit Courage Award at the 10th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On the commitment of Russians to human rights: “Russia is not usually the first country that comes to mind when

Human Rights

Resisting Authoritarianism with Damaris Moya Portieles

Cuban democracy leader and rights activist Damaris Moya Portieles addresses the 6th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full Remarks   Danaris Moya Portieles: First of all, I would like to thank UN Watch and the organisers and the sponsors of this Geneva

Women's Rights

Escaping the Taliban with Nila Ibrahimi

15-year-old Hazara activist who narrowly escaped the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, Nila Ibrahimi, addresses the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for her remarks. Full Remarks   Good morning everyone. I’m incredibly honored to be here today with you at the Geneva Summit. Thank you so much for giving me the

Democracy

My Fight for a Free Cambodia with Mu Sochua

Mu Sochua, Cambodian political opposition leader and president of the Khmer Movement for Democracy, addresses the 16th annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy | May 15, 2024  

Authoritarianism

Borderless Repression: The Long Reach of Vietnam’s Regime with Nguyen Van Trang

Van Trang Nguyen, Vietnamese democracy activist and survivor of regime attacks and transnational repression, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: Hello everyone, Hello to all who fight for freedom and human rights! My name is Nguyen Van Trang, a

Human Rights

Beyond Geneva: Advancing Human Rights in 2016 with Alfred Moses

Ambassador Alfred H. Moses, Chair of UN Watch, former U.S. Ambassador to Romania, Special Presidential Envoy for the Cyprus Conflict, and Special Counsel to President Jimmy Carter, addresses the 8th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On the Geneva Summit:

Political Prisoners

Presentation of the 2025 Defender of Freedom Award with Vladimir Kara-Murza

Vladimir Kara-Murza, Russian opposition leader, author, historian, filmmaker, and survivor of two poisoning attempts and harsh imprisonment, presented the 2025 Defender of Freedom Award to Irwin Cotler at the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Prepared Remarks: Executive Director Neuer, Your Excellencies,

Democracy

Protesting Putin with Maria Baronova

Maria Baronova, Russian human rights activist, journalist and subject of “The Bolotnaya Case”, addresses the 7th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full Remarks Hello. I am from Russia and as you know, things in my country are not as good as we would

Tibet

Why Burn Yourself Alive? with Dicki Chhoyang

Dicki Chhoyang, Minister for Development and International Relations for the Central Tibetan Administration, the Tibetan government in exile, addresses the 7th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full Remarks Dicki Chhoyang: Good afternoon. When I was thinking about what I would say this afternoon,

Women's Rights

2021 International Women’s Rights Award with Gulalai Ismail

Gulalai Ismail, prominent Pakistani women’s rights activist and former political prisoner who escaped the country receives the 2021 International Women’s Rights Award and addresses the 13th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On growing up in Pakistan: “I grew