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

Speakers and Participants

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Marina Nemat, Iranian author and former prisoner of conscience, addresses the 5th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   Marina Nemat: Hello, good morning. Thank you so, so much for your time and for having me here with you today,

Press Freedom

Uncovering Corruption with Hopewell Chin’ono

Oft-imprisoned Zimbabwean investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono addressess the 14th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On attacks on free speech in Zimbabwe: “Being here is a remarkable feat considering that I’m coming from Zimbabwe. You never know whether you’ll be

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Torture and Cruel and Inhuman Treatment with Parvez Sharma

Pavez Sharma, an Indian filmmaker, author, and journalist, addresses the 1st Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   Some of the largest and most bitter battles in this new century are going to be fought on the front lines of religion.

Women's Rights

Taking on ISIS, Fighting for Women’s Rights with Sohrab Ahmari

Sohrab Ahmari, Editorial Writer for The Wall Street Journal, addresses the 8th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy.  Full Remarks Well ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for being here, for staying with us. I’m Sohrab Ahmari, I’m an editorial writer for the Wall Street Journal and I have the honor

Human Rights

Qatar’s World Cup Slaves with Pete Pattisson

Pete Pattisson, award-winning investigative journalist who reports on labor exploitation and modern forms of slavery around the world, addresses the 12th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy — see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On exploitation of migrants in Qatar: “My reporting began in the summer

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Blasphemy in Pakistan with Peter Bhatti

Peter Bhatti, brother of Pakistan’s first and only Christian Federal Minister who was assassinated for opposing Pakistan’s blasphemy laws and Chairman of the non-profit International Christian Voice, addresses the 12th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy — see quotes below, followed by the full prepared remarks. On Pakistan’s

Political Prisoners

Exposing Putin’s Prisons with Anastasia Zotova

Anastasia Zotova, wife of jailed Russian dissident Ildar Dadin, addresses the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. Reading letter by her husband, political prisoner Ildar Dadin, then imprisoned in the Karelia prison: “On Sept. 11, 2016, they came to

Human Rights

Presentation of the Geneva Summit 2017 Courage Award with Astrid Thors

Astrid Thors, a former OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities and Finnish MP, addresses the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. Presenting the 2017 Moral Courage Award to former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed: “Mister President, your work shows how

Tibet

Tortured by China with Golog Jigme

Golog Jigme, a Buddhist monk and human rights activist who was jailed and tortured for making the documentary “Leaving Fear Behind”, addresses the 8th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On being tortured by China: “Why did they torture me?

Democracy

Iran: The 2018 Protests with Maryam Nayeb Yazdi

Human rights activist Maryam Nayeb Yazdi, founder of Persian2English.com, a website documenting Iranian human rights violations and co-founder of Oslo Women’s Rights Initiative, prepares to address the 10th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On the recent protests in Iran:

Democracy

“Russia will be without Putin” with Zhanna Nemtsova

Zhanna Nemtsova, Russian activist and daughter of murdered opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, addresses the 9th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On a resurgent Russian authoritarianism: “The title of the panel, as you know, is “The Return of Authoritarianism”, and

Tortured by the Libyan Regime with Ashraf El Hajouj

Ashraf El Hajouj, a Palestinian-Bulgarian medic who was the principal defendant in Libya’s so-called “HIV Trial,” addresses the 1st Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks        

Human Rights

The Future of Russia: Resisting Putin From Moscow to Kyiv with Leonid Volkov

Chief of staff to imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny and co-founder of the Internet Protection Society, Leonid Volkov, addresses the 14th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy   Full Transcript Moderator: Let me introduce Leonid, whom we heard at the UN yesterday – we had a small taster

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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:

Hong Kong

Abducted by China with Lam Wing-kee

Bookseller Lam Wing-kee, abducted by Chinese authorities for selling politically sensitive books in Hong Kong, addresses the 10th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On Chinese persecution of Hong Kong booksellers: “From October to December 2015, shareholders and staff members

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

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

United Nations

Welcome with Hillel Neuer

Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch, addresses the 11th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On the UN Human Rights Council:  “We meet only a few days after the conclusion of the main annual session of today’s United Nations

Women's Rights

Presentation of the 2026 International Women’s Rights Award with Sophia Aram

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

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