Speeches
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
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
A panel including Peter Yang, son of Guo Feixiong, imprisoned Chinese “barefoot lawyer” and civil rights activist; Dr. Gyal Lo, academic expert on China’s mass use of boarding schools to eradicate Tibetan identity and culture; Frances Hui, first Hong Kong activist granted political asylum in the US, Director of ‘We
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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,
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
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
A panel including Member of the French National Assembly outspoken for victims of repression in Iran, Hadrien Ghomi; Mayor of Frankfurt and former political prisoner in Iran, Dr. Nargess Eskandari-Grünberg; Member of the Swedish Parliament and leading campaigner for the EU to designate the IRGC as a terrorist entity, Alireza
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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