Rights Abusers Scrutinized at Geneva Summit


Political prisoners in Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and China were spotlighted by family members and representatives at the United Nations opening of the 12th Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, February 17, 2020.

Dissidents spotlight abuses in Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Turkey, China, Pakistan, DR Congo, Venezuela, Vietnam, Mauritania

GENEVA, Feb. 18, 2020 – China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, Turkey and Venezuela were among the governments that came under scrutiny today in Geneva, days ahead of the 2020 UN Human Rights Council that opens there on Monday, at an annual assembly of dissidents and families of political prisoners that gives a global platform to victims of the world’s worst abuses.

The 12th annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, organized by a cross-regional coalition of 25 human rights groups, began yesterday inside the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva, and today concluded its second and final day of testimonies at the city’s nearby international conference center, with hundreds in attendance.

Diego Arria, former Venezuelan Ambassador to the UN and president of the Security Council, spotlighted the Maduro regime’s abuses. Top Russian opposition figure Lyubov Sobol called out Putin’s crushing of dissent. Iranian women’s rights activist Shaparak Shajarizadeh, jailed repeatedly for daring to remove her headscarf, received the 2020 International Women’s Rights award.

Testimonies by the dissidents and victims focused on issues that, under pressure by powerful UNHRC members, will go ignored or insufficiently addressed at next week’s session.

                    Hi-res photos | Facebook photo album Videos  | Program

TESTIMONIES FROM THE 12th GENEVA SUMMIT

Nury TurkelUyghur rights activist and lawyer: “What’s happening in my homeland is not confined there. China’s tools of monitoring and surveillance are spreading across the globe, readily available for authoritarian governments to suppress populations they find bothersome.”

Peter Bhattibrother of Pakistani Minister who was assassinated for supporting Asia Bibi: “My beloved brother Shahbaz Bhatti dedicated his entire life to raising awareness about the plight of Pakistan’s persecuted religious minorities. He was the only person who publicly challenged Pakistan’s discriminatory laws, despite facing threats to his life.”

Lyubov Sobol, top Russian opposition figure: “Putin wants the world to think he represents the Russian people. But there can be no more compelling evidence that his power rests on a lie than his violent crackdown on Russians who demand their representatives be allowed to put that power to the test in free and fair elections.”

Kaveh Shahroozhuman rights lawyer, expert on Iran“Iran is an authoritarian regime that kills dissidents, imposes gender apartheid, and treats certain religious minorities as non-persons under the law.”

Pete Pattissonlabor rights photojournalist: Qatar’s economic model is not built on gas or oil, but the exploitation of some of the most vulnerable workers in the world.”

Yavuz AydinTurkish judge purged by Erdogan: “I went to bed as a judge, and woke up as a terrorist.”

Laritza DiversentCuban human rights lawyer, director of Cubalex legal aid organization: “I was accused of being a foreign mercenary. Our office was raided. They confiscated our telephones and computers. They prevented us from eating for the 11 hours of the raid. Five of us were obliged to strip naked.”

Rebecca Kabuo –  Human rights activist in DR Congo, the youngest prisoner of conscience in the world in 2015: “My country is a member of the UN Human Rights Council — this is a true aberration. There is no democracy, free expression, or right to demonstrate.”

Shaparak Shajarizadeh, Iranian women’s rights activist: “I was arrested for the crime of waving a white flag of peace in the street, only to be punished by the regime and detained in Qarchak prison. I was beaten up and brutalized during the investigation, and thrown into solitary confinement. It was the most frightening experience of my life.”

Memory Banda, activist fighting child marriage in Malawi“My little sister was 11 years old when she got pregnant and was married off to the man who impregnated her. That was it; her childhood robbed from her, her dreams and goals shattered. There are thousands of girls who have been married off, their rights violated and futures destroyed.”

Dennis Chau,son of Vietnamese political prisoner Van Kham Chau: “He’s held in a cell for 23 hours of the day, with 1 hour of exercise permitted. His mental health is deteriorating. We’ve made requests for family visitation, none of which have been granted. My father turned 70 last year, and so with a 12-year sentence, he’ll be 82 when he is released. It is effectively a death sentence.”

Jewher Ilhamdaughter of Uyghur scholar and political prisoner Ilham Tohti: “The Chinese government has locked up my father to keep him quiet, but we are not locked up. We are free to speak.”

Dr. Elham ManeaMiddle East scholar & activist for human rights in Saudi Arabia: “How can we make sense of these reforms when Raif Badawi and his attorney Waleed Abulkhair are still in prison for nothing but peacefully expressing their opinions and demands for reforms?”

Denise HoHong Kong singer and human rights activist: “This is not only a fight for Hong Kong, but a very global fight against a dictatorship that is inflicting its influence in the whole world. This dictatorship that is China.”

Rosa Orozcomother of student Geraldine Moreno killed by Venezuelan troops for protesting: “The National Guard arrived, shooting at the neighbors who were only holding pans and flags. My daughter Geraldine ran up to the guard. But he shot her. Then another guard shot her in the face, and then again from 10 centimeters away.”

Diego Arria,former Venezuelan ambassador to the UN: “It is inexplicable that a criminal Maduro regime could be a member of this organization, the UN Human Rights Council, for the second time.”

Biram Dah AbeidMauritanian anti-slavery activist: “We can only underline the paradox of the Mauritanian state, which in January 2020 joined the Human Rights Council while violating human rights, even the most basic ones.”

Irwin CotlerChair of the Raoul Wallenberg Center for Human Rights: “Our responsibility is to let victims know that they are not alone, that we will act and march in solidarity with them, until justice is secured, until their freedom is secured.”

Related

Uyghur Persecution

Exposing China’s Lies with Rushan Abbas

Nobel-nominated Uyghur activist and sister to imprisoned Uyghur doctor Gulshan Abbas, Rushan Abbas, addresses the 14th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On becoming an activist: “I am speaking today out of necessity. I’m a mother who had a fulfilling life

Authoritarianism

Can Communist Regimes Reform? Part 2: The Case of Cuba with Juan Francisco Sigler Amaya

Juan Francisco Sigler Amaya, a Cuban human rights activist and co-founder of the Independent Alternative Option Movement, 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 To Be Confirmed 7th Annual Geneva Summit for Human

Democracy

Rebelling Against Assad with Ibrahim Al-Idelbi

Ibrahim Al-Idelbi, Syrian human rights activist active in the rebel North-West of the country, 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 To Be Confirmed

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

Welcome with Hillel Neuer

Hillel Neuer, international lawyer, diplomat, activist and Executive Director of UN Watch, addresses the 8th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   TBC

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

Press Freedom

The Last Newspaper Left with Miguel Henrique Otero

Owner and CEO of Venezuela’s last independent newspaper, El Nacional, Miguel Henrique Otero, speaks at the 14th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On bringing Chavez to power and seeing him become a dictator: “I met him numerous times, and at

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

Tortured in North Korea with Fred and Cindy Warmbier

Fred and Cindy Warmbier, parents of Otto Warmbier who was tortured in North Korea, discuss with Hillel Neuer at the 10th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. Full Transcript Hillel Neuer: I’m joined on the stage by Fred and Cindy Warmbier, and they’re here because of their son, Otto.

Democracy

Nicaragua Cries Freedom with Felix Maradiaga

Felix Maradiaga, Nicaraguan opposition leader and human rights activist, addresses the 11th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full remarks in English and Spanish. On human rights abuses in Nicaragua: “It was the case of the child Conrado Alvaro, who was shot in

Democracy

Opening Address with James Kirchick

James Kirchik, journalist, author, and visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution, addresses the 11th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On the universality of human rights: “Don’t let anyone tell you that certain cultures are immune to democracy or individual

Democracy

Glory to Hong Kong with Frances Hui

Frances Hui, first Hong Kong activist granted political asylum in the US and Director of ‘We the Hong Kongers’ organization, addresses the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for her prepared remarks. Prepared Remarks: I want to start with a statement that you may find confusing

Human Rights

Presentation of Geneva Summit 2015 Courage Award with Alfred Moses

Ambassador Alfred Moses, former special counsel to President Carter, U.S. ambassador to Romania, and special presidential envoy for the Cyprus conflict, addresses the 7th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full Remarks Hillel Neuer: The work that the Geneva Summit does for the past

Africa and LGBT Rights with Kasha Jacqueline

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    

Corruption

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

Human Rights

Conclusion with John Suarez

John Suarez, Executive Director at the Center for a Free Cuba, adresses the 5th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   John Suarez: Thank you Hillel and I just want to say thanks to UN Watch for making this possible

Human Rights

Freedom of Expression and Defamation of Religion with Caroline Fourest, Mohamed Sifaoui, Floyd Abrams, Angela Wu, Patrick Gaubert, Brett Schaefer

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

Political Prisoners

Speaking out for Raif Badawi with Elham Manea

Dr. Elham Manea, Yemeni-Swiss political scientist, writer and human rights activist who focuses on the Arab Middle East, addresses the 12th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy — see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On reforms in Saudi Arabia: “It is staggering that while these winds