Jared Genser, international human rights lawyer, and Paula Schriefer, former Vice President for Global Programs at Freedom House, lead a human rights skills-building workshop at the 2nd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.

 

Full remarks

 

 

Speakers and Participants

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

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Authoritarianism and Dissent: 21st Century Horizons with Tamara Suju

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Surviving the North Korean Gulag with Kenneth Bae

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Political Prisoners

Held Hostage In Iran with Mariam Claren

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Uncovering Corruption with Hopewell Chin’ono

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Political Prisoners

China After Liu Xiabo with Yang Jianli

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Just Released from Egyptian Prison with Maikel Nabil

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Women's Rights

2019 International Women’s Rights Award with Nimco Ali

Nimco Ali, British-Somali feminist and social rights activist who co-founded and directs Daughters of Eve, a survivor-led organization focused on ending female genital mutilation (FGM), addresses the 11th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy after receiving the Summit’s International Women’s Rights Award – see quotes below, followed by

Human Rights

Presentation of Geneva Summit 2015 Courage Award with Alfred Moses

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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,

Political Prisoners

Trapped in Tehran: 804 Days in Evin Prison with Kylie Moore-Gilbert

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Abducted, Tortured, and Sentenced to Death in Iran with Gazelle Sharmahd

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Torture

Surviving Venezuela’s Torture Chamber with Victor Navarro

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Democracy

A Day in the Life of Venezuela’s Diaspora with María-Alejandra Aristeguieta-Álvarez

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Press Freedom

The Pen and the Sword with Asli Erdoğan

Asli Erdoğan, renowned Turkish novelist imprisoned for more than four months following the summer 2016 coup attempt, addresses the 10th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On repression in Turkey before and after the coup: “I still have burn marks

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

Tibet

China’s Colonial Boarding Schools in Tibet with Dr. Gyal Lo

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Speaking out for Raif Badawi with Elham Manea

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