Speeches

Human Rights

Welcome with Hillel Neuer

International lawyer, diplomat and Executive Director of UN Watch, Hillel Neuer delivers opening remarks at the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for his full remarks. Full Remarks Excellencies, courageous defenders of human rights gathered from around the globe, ladies and gentlemen, friends. Welcome to the 2023 Geneva

Russia

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 prepared remarks. Prepared Remarks: I am deeply honoured and deeply humbled to be standing on this stage today where my

China

Long Live the Freedom Fighters with Yang Jianli

Yang Jianli, President of Initiatives for China and former political prisoner, addresses the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for his prepared remarks. Exactly one week ago, the Chinese government sentenced my friend and a prominent human rights defender Guo Feixiong to 8 years in prison.

China

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 prepared remarks. Prepared Remarks: I am here today, speaking for my father, Yang Maodong, better known by his pen name, Guo Feixiong.

Tibet

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

Dr. Gyal Lo, academic expert on China’s mass use of boarding schools to eradicate Tibetan identity and culture, addresses the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for his prepared remarks. Prepared Remarks: In 2015, I finished my PhD in Sociology of education at the University of

Hong Kong

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

Uyghur

Witnessing China’s Re-Education Camps with Kalbinur Sidik

Kalbinur Sidik, Uyghur activist, witness to Chinese reeducation camp atrocities and survivor of forced sterilization, addresses the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for her prepared remarks in Uyghur and the corresponding video, followed by the English translation. Prepared Remarks: Uyghur    ھازىر ، جۇڭگودا جازا

Zimbabwe

The Tragedy of Zimbabwe with Fadzayi Mahere

Constitutional lawyer and opposition spokesperson arrested repeatedly in Zimbabwe, Fadzayi Mahere, speaks at the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for her prepared remarks. Prepared Remarks: Two years ago, I woke up in an overcrowded jail cell in Zimbabwe’s Maximum Security Prison. No water. No toilet. No

Afghanistan

Escaping the Taliban with Nila Ibrahimi

15-year-old Hazara activist who narrowly escaped the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, Nila Ibrahimi, addresses the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for her prepared remarks. Prepared Remarks: Nila Ibrahimi – Afghanistan – FINAL   It was August 15, a beautiful sunny day that soon turned dark and cloudy,

Iran

Presentation of the 2023 International Women’s Rights Award with Genoveva Tisheva

Vice Chair of the U.N Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, Genoveva Tisheva presents the International Women’s Rights Award at the 15th annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy– see below for her prepared remarks Prepared Remarks: It is a great honor to stand before you today

Iran

2023 International Women’s Rights Award with Shima Babaei

Iranian women’s rights activist Shima Babaei speaks at the 15th annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy  – see below her prepared remarks in Persian, followed by the English translation and the corresponding video. Prepared Remarks: Persian  من از کشوری آمده‌ام که زن بودن در آن جرم است. روزنامه نگاری

Uyghur

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 prepared remarks. Prepared Remarks: My name is Dolkun Isa and I am Uyghur. Despite living in the free world, I have

North Korea

North Korea: Escape from Starvation and Oppression with Songmi Han

North Korean escapee and survivor of extreme poverty, oppression, and abandonment, Songmi Han, addresses the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for her prepared remarks. Prepared Remarks: My mom gave me two lives. First, when she gave birth to me in 1993. Second, when she rescued me from

Ukraine

Diary of an Invasion: Eyewitness to Russia’s War on Ukraine with Andrey Kurkov

Highly-acclaimed Russian-born Ukrainian novelist known for his unwavering criticism of Vladimir Putin who reported on the situation on the ground in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, Andrey Kurkov, addresses the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for his prepared remarks. Prepared Remarks: Do I have the right to be

Russia

The Terrible Cost of Resisting Putin with Anastasia Shevchenko

Anastasia Shevchenko, the first dissident convicted under Russia’s “undesirable organizations” law, profiled in Oscar-shortlisted film “Anastasia,” addresses the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for her prepared remarks. Prepared Remarks: I am a politician by accident. But I was always meant to be a mom.   When I was

FGM

Fighting Female Genital Mutilation with Marie-Claire Kakpotia

Survivor and activist fighting to end Female Genital Mutilation, Marie-Claire Kakpotia, addresses the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below her prepared remarks. Prepared Remarks:  When I was nine years old, I was on vacation with my father’s family in Côte d’Ivoire when my aunt told me we’d been

Turkey

Erdoğan, Journalism & the Elections in Turkey with Nevsin Mengu

Turkish journalist dropped from CNN Türk after she criticized President Erdoğan, Nevşin Mengü  interviewed by journalist and former CNN producer Melissa Mahtani at the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for the interview. Interview:  Melissa Mahtani  We have heard some incredibly powerful testimony from our last

Cuba

The Hidden Island: The Life of Cubans Under Dictatorships with Abraham Jiménez Enoa

Prominent Cuban journalist forced into exile, grandson of the bodyguard to Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, Abraham Jiménez Enoa, addresses the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below his prepared remarks in Spanish, followed by the English translation and the corresponding video. Prepared Remarks: A mediados del

Venezuela

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 his prepared remarks. Prepared Remarks: We humans develop a strong sense of belonging to our motherlands. For me, that’s Venezuela. But my story begins

Nicaragua

Presentation of the 2023 Courage Award with Javier El-Hage

Chief Legal and Policy Officer at Human Rights Foundation, Javier El-Hage presents the 2023 Courage Award at the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below his prepared remarks. Prepared Remarks: It’s my distinct honour to present, on behalf of the Geneva Summit’s 26 partner organizations, the

Nicaragua

The 2023 Courage Award with Felix Maradiaga

Nicaraguan opposition leader and former political prisoner, targeted by the government on false criminal charges, Félix Maradiaga, is presented with the 2023 Courage Award at the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy  – see his remarks below.  Remarks: This is somewhat surreal. 90 days ago, I was in a very

Nicaragua

Viva Nicaragua Libre with Felix Maradiaga, Berta Valle, Melissa Mahtani

Nicaraguan opposition leader and former political prisoner, targeted by the government on false criminal charges, Félix Maradiaga, is presented with the 2023 Courage Award at the 15th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. He is joined on stage by his wife and recognised Nicaraguan activist, journalist, and human rights defender, Berta