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

Political Prisoners

China After Liu Xiabo with Yang Jianli

Chinese dissident and former political prisoner Yang Jianli addresses the 10th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On China’s harassment of human rights activists: “In mid- January 2018, a Beijing–based human rights lawyer, Yu Wensheng, while walking his son to

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,

Authoritarianism and Dissent: 21st Century Horizons with Dewa Mavhinga

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

Democracy

Panel: Combating Transnational Repression with Masih Alinejad, Leopoldo López

Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch, moderated a discussion with Masih Alinejad and Leopoldo López at the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2026. Masih Alinejad is an Iranian journalist, women’s rights activist, and repeated target of attempted assassinations. Leopoldo López is a

Political Prisoners

Defying Belarus’ Dictator with Tatsiana Khomich

Sister to imprisoned Belarusian opposition leader Maria Kalesnikava, Tatsiana Khomich, speaks at the 14th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On her incredible sister: “On September 7, 2020, Belarus tried to forcibly exile my sister, Maria Kalesnikava – and they

Human Rights

Presentation of the 2026 Courage Award with Alice Teodorescu Måwe

Alice Teodorescu Måwe, Swedish member of the European Parliament, delivers her remarks as she presents the 2026 Geneva Summit Courage Award to Masih Alinejad on behalf of the heroes of Iran. Full Prepared Remarks: Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Thank you for this invitation. It is a great honour

Democracy

Hong Kong’s Fight for Freedom Is Not Over with Chloe Cheung

Chloe Cheung, the youngest Hong Kong dissident on Beijing’s “Wanted Persons” list and Manager of Public Affairs and Advocacy at the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18, 2026.   Full Prepared Remarks: ​​You hear chanting.

The Silencing of Critical Voices in Morocco with Kacem El Ghazzali

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

Religious Freedom

Beijing’s War on Religious Freedom with Grace Jin Drexel

Grace Jin Drexel, daughter of Pastor Ezra Jin, a political prisoner in China, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18, 2026.   Full Prepared Remarks: On October 10th, my father, Pastor Ezra Jin, was arrested by the Chinese authorities along with 27 other

Human Rights

Venezuela: Fighting For Freedom with Tamara Suju

Tamara Suju, Venezuelan lawyer and human rights activist, addresses the 7th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full Remarks Good morning. I’ve been asked to talk about my experience and what I’ve done so that I would end up in the Czech Republic, which

Authoritarianism

Now Is The Time: Reforming Cuba with Manuel Cuesta

Manuel Cuesta, a Cuban historian, political activist and founder of the Progressive Arch, a forum bringing together diverse organisations militating for change in communist Cuba, addresses the 7th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. Quotes: To Be Confirmed Full Remarks […] I’d

Iran: Jailed, Tortured & Abused by the Regime with Ebrahim Mehtari

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,

Censorship and Internet Freedom with Alexander Ntoko

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

Authoritarianism

The Last Iron Curtain with Rosa Maria Paya

Rosa Maria Paya, one of Cuba’s leading human rights and democracy activists and the daughter of the late Oswaldo Paya, addresses the 8th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On dictatorship in Cuba: “Let me tell you that as a

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

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

Tibet

Fighting for Dignity in Tibet with Tenzin Dhardon Sharling

Tenzin Dhardon Sharling, the youngest member of the Tibetan Parliament in exile, addresses the 6th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full Remarks   Tenzin Dhardon Sharling: Good morning everyone.  First of all, a huge thanks to the UN watch for organizing

Political Prisoners

Iran: Forced to Flee with Maryam Malekpour

Maryam Malekpour, sister of Saeed Malekpour, Iranian developer serving life sentence in Evin prison on spurious charges, addresses the 10th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On Iran’s abduction and imprisonment of Saeed Malekpour: “Our nightmare began on October

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