Soe Aung is a Burmese dissident activist who was involved in the 1988 people’s uprising in Burma and has remained active outside of his country now for 20 years campaigning for freedom.
Brandon Silver, international human rights lawyer, 2024 Magnitsky Award laureate, and the Director of Policy & Projects at the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2026.
Sophia Aram, French comedian and actress, presents the International Women’s Rights Award at the 18th annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy to Marzieh Hamidi, Afghan-Iranian taekwondo athlete and advocate for women’s rights in Afghanistan. Full Prepared Remarks: Excellencies, human rights defenders, distinguished guests, It is an honor
Marina Ovsyannikova, Russian journalist who famously interrupted a live state TV news broadcast with a sign protesting Putin’s war on Ukraine, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18, 2026. Full Prepared Remarks: I am a journalist from Russia. For more than twenty
Bobi Wine, presidential candidate in Uganda’s January 2026 elections, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18, 2026.
Yunior García Aguilera, Cuban playwright and democracy activist, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18, 2026. Full Prepared Remarks: My name is Yunior. Just junior. I was born in Cuba in 1982. The generation before mine had names inspired by Soviet culture.
Kai Maresca, a student at Ecole Moser in Geneva, presented the empty chair for Mikhail Kriger at the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2026. Full Remarks: My name is Kai Maresca, and I am a student at Ecole Moser in Geneva. The empty
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
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
Mutasim Ali, Sudanese human rights advocate and Legal Advisor at the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy by video on February 18, 2026. Full Prepared Remarks: Hello everyone, I regret that I was unable to attend the Summit
Kiran Tirado, a student at Institut Florimont in Geneva, presented the empty chair for the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, at the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2026. Full Remarks: My name is Kiran Tirado, and I am a student at Institut
Kim Yumi, North Korean defector who escaped by boat to South Korea with her family in 2023, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18, 2026. Full Prepared Remarks: Hello. It is my honour to stand here today and meet all of you.
Huệ Như, Vietnamese pro-democracy and anti-corruption activist and former political prisoner, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18, 2026. Full Prepared Remarks: Hello everyone! I would like to invite you to listen to a story. This is not the story of a
Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of United Nations Watch, on behalf of 30 co-sponsoring NGOs, delivered the welcome address at the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Prepared Remarks: Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, Welcome to the 18th annual Geneva Summit
Timothy Cho, North Korean human rights activist and defector who was imprisoned four times in North Korea and China, addressed the U.N. Opening for the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 17th, 2026. Key Quotes: “Where is justice for the people of North Korea in
Pedro Urruchurtu Noselli, Venezuelan opposition advisor wanted on politically motivated charges who took refuge for more than 400 days inside the Argentine embassy in Caracas, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18, 2026. Full Prepared Remarks: On January 3, 2026, U.S. military
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, President-elect of Belarus, delivered the 2026 Keynote Address at the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2026. Full Prepared Remarks: Dear friends, A few months ago, my children hugged their father again. For years, they had only memories. There was no communication.
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.
Aram Aqil, Kurdish minority rights activist and a former ISIS hostage, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18, 2026. Full Prepared Remarks: Today, I speak as someone whose life has been shaped by discrimination, neglect, and exclusion. My name is Aram Aqil.
Afghan-Iranian Taekwondo athlete and advocate for women’s rights in Afghanistan, Marzieh Hamidi, recieved the International Women’s Rights Award at the 18th annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. Click here to view the presentation of the award by Sophia Aram. Full Remarks: I am not here to tell you
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
Masih Alinejad, Iranian journalist and women’s rights activist, accepted the 2026 Courage Award on behalf of the heroes of Iran at the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2026. Click here to view the presentation of the award by Alice Teodorescu Måwe. Full
Blessed Mhlanga, Zimbabwean journalist and former political prisoner, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18, 2026. Full Prepared Remarks: Last year, I spent 73 days in pre-trial detention for another man’s speech at a press conference I did not even attend. This
Leopoldo López, Venezuelan dissident, former political prisoner, and co-founder of the World Liberty Congress, addressed the 18th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18, 2026. Full Prepared Remarks: Excellencies, distinguished delegates, January 3 changed Venezuela. It did not solve everything. It did not magically erase
Brandon Silver, international human rights lawyer, 2024 Magnitsky Award laureate, and the Director of Policy & Projects at the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: Congratulations President-elect Edmundo González and leader María Corina
Edmundo González, President-elect of Venezuela, and María Corina Machado, Venezuelan opposition leader received the 2025 Courage Award at the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Click here to view the presentation of the award by Baroness Sal Brinton. Full Remarks: Good afternoon all
Baroness Sal Brinton, Member of House of Lords and Human Rights Chair of Liberal International, delivers her remarks as she presents the 2025 Geneva Summit Courage Award to President-elect Edmundo González and opposition leader María Corina Machado. Full Remarks: Ladies and Gentlemen, Liberal International is a proud, long-time partner of
Osiris Puerto Terry, a victim of brutality by the Cuban regime who was shot twice at the 11J protests, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks (Translated from Spanish): I am not a politician. I am not an activist. I
Javier El-Hage, Chief Legal and Policy Officer of Human Rights Foundation, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: Ladies and gentlemen, It is a privilege to stand before so many survivors and human rights heroes today. I am not one
Betlehem Isaak, Swedish-Eritrean writer, and daughter of journalist Dawit Isaak who has been detained in Eritrean prison without trial for 24 years, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: Eritrea has been called “Africa’s North Korea,” “The Hermit Kingdom,” “An
Petra Dillon, a student at Ecolint in Geneva, presented the empty chair for Rahile Dawut at the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: The empty chair on this stage is dedicated to Rahile Dawut, a world-renowned scholar of Uyghur folklore and
Niemat Ahmadi, survivor of the Darfur Genocide, Sudanese women’s rights defender, and founder and president of Darfur Women Action Group, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: Good Afternoon, everyone, I am standing before you today, feeling incredibly dismayed that,
Irwin Cotler, international human rights lawyer for political prisoners, legal scholar, and former Canadian Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, received the 2025 Defender of Freedom Award at the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: May I begin by saying how moved
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,
Namkyi, exiled Tibetan activist and former political prisoner, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Prepared Remarks (Translated from Tibetan): May his Holiness, the Dalai Lama, live long. Let his Holiness the Dalai Lama return to Tibet. Freedom for Tibet. I
Saman Pouryaghma, blinded in one eye after being shot while protesting, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Prepared Remarks: Hello everyone, I am honored to have this opportunity to speak with you today. My name is Saman Pouryaghma. I am
Maryam Diyor, mother of Abolfazl Amir-Ataei, who was killed at age 16 by the regime for protesting, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks (Translated from Persian): Salutations to the Crown Prince, Reza Pahlavi. On September 16th, 2022, the Islamic
Mahan Mehrabi, sister of Iranian political prisoner Mahmoud Mehrabi, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks (Translated from Persian): Greetings to all, greetings to the Prince of Iran. Greetings to my people. I would like to thank the Prince of
Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Iranian-Canadian human rights and democracy advocate, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025 to introduce a panel session on the Islamic Republic’s brutality against protestors. Full Remarks: I want to express my deep gratitude to Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi for
Reza Pahlavi, Crown Prince of Iran, delivered the 2025 Keynote Address at the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: Ladies and gentlemen, friends, and tireless advocates for human rights, Before I begin, I would like to thank the thousands of my
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
Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Iranian-Canadian human rights and democracy advocate, presents the International Women’s Rights Award at the 17th annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy to Afghanistan’s former Minister of Women’s Affairs and first woman to run for president Massouda Jalal, and her activist daughter, Husna Jalal, on behalf of all
Mathieu Johansson, a student at Ecole Moser in Geneva, presented the empty chair for Ahmadreza Djalali at the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: The empty chair on this stage is dedicated to Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali, an innocent man facing execution
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
Rahima Mahmut, Uyghur human rights activist, translator, and singer, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. It is an honor and privilege to be here with you today. In 1989, I was one of thousands
Sebastien Lai, leader of the international #FreeJimmyLai campaign and son of imprisoned pro-democracy newspaper publisher Jimmy Lai, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Prepared Remarks: Chinese New Year’s was just a few weeks ago. Since I was young, every year
Mathilde Gahier, a student at the Institut Florimont in Geneva, presented the empty chair for Maria Kalesnikava at the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: The empty chair on this stage is dedicated to Maria Kalesnikava, an opposition leader and defender
Times Wang, human rights lawyer and the son of Chinese democracy pioneer, Dr. Wang Bingzhang, who has been imprisoned since 2002, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: I remember the message from my aunt like it was yesterday: “Your
Björn Stritzel, chief correspondent at BILD, moderated a discussion with Evgenia Kara-Murza and Vladimir Kara-Murza at the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Evgenia Kara-Murza is the advocacy director of the Free Russia Foundation, defending anti-war activists, dissidents and political prisoners. Vladimir Kara-Murza is