International lawyer, diplomat and Executive Director of UN Watch, Hillel Neuer delivers opening remarks at the 16th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy
Hillel Neuer
Executive Director, UN Watch
Speakers and Participants
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Press Freedom
Silenced for Reporting: Zimbabwe’s War on the Press with Blessed Mhlanga
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
Political Prisoners
Iran’s Abusive Legal System with Taghi Rahmani
Taghi Rahmani, Iranian journalist and human rights activist, addresses the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On his imprisonment: “I was tortured physically many times but there are many prisoners that have suffered more than I have.” “I personally
Human Rights
The Islamic Republic’s Crackdown on Dissent with Mahan Mehrabi
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
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
Tibet
A Tibetan’s Brave Escape from the Chinese Regime with Namkyi
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
Political Prisoners
Opening Address with Evgenia Kara-Murza
Human rights activist, wife of jailed Russian prisoner of conscience and opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, Evgenia Kara-Murza, addresses the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for her remarks. Full Remarks Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, I am deeply honoured and deeply humbled to be standing on this
Women's Rights
2018 International Women’s Rights Award with Julienne Lusenge
Congolese activist Julienne Lusenge who fights rape as a weapon of war is awarded the 2018 Women’s Rights Award before addressing the 10th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On protracted war in the Democratic Republic of Cong (DRC): “Before
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
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
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
Political Prisoners
Fighting for my Dad with Peter Yang
Peter Yang, son of Guo Feixiong, imprisoned Chinese “barefoot lawyer” and civil rights activist, addresses the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for his remarks. Full Remarks I am here today, speaking for my father, Yang Maodong, who is more known for his pen name, Guo
Women's Rights
Let Iranian Women Enter Their Stadiums with Darya Safai
Darya Safai, Iranian women’s rights campaigner and founder of Let Iranian Women Enter Their Stadiums, addresses the 8th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On growing up in Iran: “I grew up in the religious dictatorship of the Islamic Republic
Democracy
Fighting for Democracy and Human Rights in Latin America with Javier El-Hage
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
Human Rights
Why We Have to Fight Together with María-Alejandra Aristeguieta-Álvarez
María Alejandra Aristeguieta, Ambassador-designate in Switzerland of Venezuela interim President Juan Guaido, addresses the 10th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On her father’s arrest: “I normally work along with this Summit and I bring people and testimonies of victims
Burma: Is What you See, What you Get? with Zoya Phan
Zoya Phan, one of the leading activists in Europe for democracy in Myanmar, addresses the 4th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Catherine Fiankan-Bokonga: We are going to start with Ms. Zoya Phan from Burma, who was forced to leave her
Women's Rights
2026 International Women’s Rights Award with Marzieh Hamidi
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
The Right against Arbitrary Arrest with Gwang-il Yung
Gwang-il Yung, a North Korean defector, survivor of a labor camp, an currently working for ‘Free the North Korean Gulag,’ addresses the 3rd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks
Tribute to International Women’s Day: Women and the Right to Equality with Irwin Cotler
Professor Irwin Cotler, Chair of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights and former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, addresses the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Hillel Neuer: We are going to begin our
Human Rights
Confronting Oppression, Defending Human Rights with Melissa Mahtani, Kaveh Shahrooz, Lyubov Sobol, Peter Bhatti
Full Transcript Moderator: It was incredibly powerful. I would like to just begin by taking a moment, to really recognize the courage and sacrifice all of you, including Nury, have really taken and I don’t think it gets hard enough recognition. So, please, just join me in giving them all
Authoritarianism
Bodyguard to the North Korean Regime with Lee Young-guk
Lee Young-guk, bodyguard to former North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il, addresses the 8th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On the luxurious life of the Kim dynasty: “These North Korean dictators have been passing down power for three generations and
Political Prisoners
The Senator in Solitary with Vincente de Lima
Vincente de Lima, the brother of Philippines Senator Leila de Lima, currently in prison for criticizing President Duterte’s Drug War, addresses the 11th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On Duterte’s assault on human rights: “Imagine a pile of corpses
Protecting Press Freedom and Internet Freedom with Ilana Soskin, Miguel Angel Rodriguez
A discussion with prominent Venezuelan journalist and political activist, Miguel Angel Rodriguez, and international lawyer and associate counsel at the International Criminal Court (ICC), Ilana Soskin, at the 3rd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks
War Crimes
Sudan Atrocities: Seeking Accountability with Mutasim Ali
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
Uyghur Persecution
The Uyghur Human Rights Crisis with Dolkun Isa
President of the World Uyghur Congress and target of intense persecution from the Chinese government, Dolkun Isa, addresses the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for his remarks. Full Remarks My name is Dolkun Isa and I am Uyghur. Despite living in the free world, I have felt
Authoritarianism and Dissent: 21st Century Horizons with Dong-hyuk Shin
Dong-hyuk Shin, advocate for human rights in North Korea and former prisoner at the notorious “Camp 14” North Korean labor camp, addresses the 5th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Dong-hyuk Shin: If they complain, they could be submitted to