Speeches

2024 Welcome with Hillel Neuer

  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

2024 Opening Address with Manuel Valls

Manuel Valls, ancien premier ministre de la France, s’adresse au 16e Sommet de Genève pour les droits de l’homme et la démocratie – voir son discours complet ci-dessous: Merci cher Hillel Neuer. Mesdames et messieurs, je mesure le privilège et l’honneur de prononcer à mon tour le discours d’ouverture de

Uyghur Persecution

China’s Persecution of Uyghurs, with Abduweli Ayup

Uyghur activist, linguist, and former political prisoner Abduweli Ayup, addresses the 16th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for his remarks.   Full Remarks: Good morning. I’m Abduweli Ayup. I’ve been fascinated by the Uyghur language since I was young.  Every year, around March 21st,

Tibet

Free Tibet with Chemi Lhamo

Tibetan-Canadian human rights activist and community organizer, Chemi Lhamo, addresses the 16th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for her remarks. Full Remarks: Home.  Where is home for one that has never seen their own beautiful country, and in my case: Bhoe. Tibet.  Tashi delek

Human Rights

Arrested for Holding a Blank Paper with Rei Xia

Chinese dissenter, human rights activist, and former political prisoner Rei Xia addresses the 16th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for her remarks. Full Remarks: Thank you all.  Ladies and gentlemen, imagine one day you wake up and realize that you’ve turned into a caterpillar,

Democracy

Is Change Possible in Zimbabwe, with Job Sikhala

Job Sikhala, Zimbabwean opposition leader, addresses the 16th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for his remarks. Full Remarks: I want to greet you, honourable guests of this important Summit for Human Rights and Democracy from all four corners of the world.  I am Job

War Crimes

Resisting Aggression: The Resilience of Ukraine with Lisa Yasko

Member of Ukrainian Parliament, Lisa Yasko, addresses the 16th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for her remarks. Full Remarks: Dear friends, dear colleagues, I’m very glad to be here in Geneva. And you know, two days ago when I was flying here and I

Political Prisoners

Truth Tellers Under Fire: The Anti-War Struggle in Russia with Aleksandra Garmazhapova

Russian anti-war activist and investigative journalist, founder of the Free Buryatia Foundation, Aleksandra Garmazhapova, addresses the 16th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for her remarks. Full Remarks: Good afternoon, I am honored to be here today. My name is Aleksandra Garmazhapova. I am a

Democracy

Charting the Path to Democracy in Belarus with Veronica Tsepkalo

Exiled Belarusian opposition figure and chair of the Belarus Women’s Foundation, Veronica Tsepkalo, addresses the 16th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for her remarks. Full Remarks: Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, dear honorable guests! First, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to

Democracy

Beyond Bars: A Story of Defiance and Hope with Nguyen Tien Trung

Vietnamese pro-democracy activist and former political prisoner, Trung Tien Nguyen, addresses the 16th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for his remarks. Full Remarks: Right now, as I stand here today, nearly 100 million Vietnamese people are suffocating under the Communist Party of Vietnam’s authoritarian

Democracy

My Fight for a Free Cambodia with Mu Sochua

Mu Sochua, Cambodian political opposition leader and president of the Khmer Movement for Democracy, addresses the 16th annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy | May 15, 2024  

Disability Rights

The Life of the Disabled in North Korea with Hyosim Maeng

North Korean defector, human rights activist, and advocate for disability rights, Hyosim Maeng, addresses the 16th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for her remarks. Full Remarks:  My mission is to raise awareness about the lives of disabled people in North Korea. Over the years,

Women's Rights

Presentation of the 2024 International Women’s Rights Award with Joelle Fiss

Member of Grand Conseil of the Canton of Geneva, Joelle Fiss, presents the International Women’s Rights Award at the 16th annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy to Fatou Baldeh, a Gambian women’s rights activist and survivor fighting to end Female Genital Mutilation.    

Women's Rights

2024 International Women’s Rights Award with Fatou Baldeh

Gambian women’s rights activist and survivor fighting to end Female Genital Mutilation Fatou Baldeh addresses the 16th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for her remarks. Full remarks: Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Members of the Press, Ladies and Gentlemen, good afternoon to you all.  I am

Authoritarianism

Art and Activism: Fighting Persecution of Dissent in Cuba with Carolina Barrero

Carolina Barrero, exiled Cuban art historian, writer, and human rights activist, addresses the 16th annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for her remarks. Full remarks:  I spent most of the year 2021 held under house arrest. The flat that became my prison was bugged with

Torture

Surviving Venezuela’s Torture Chamber with Victor Navarro

Victor Navarro, Venezuelan journalist and human rights defender, addresses the 16th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy –  see below for his remarks. *Vídeo y transcripción en español abajo   Full Remarks: In 2013 my life changed, specifically the day they killed my father. At that time Caracas, the

Democracy

Fighting For Democracy in Bolivia with Toribia Lero Quispe

Toribia Lero Quispe, indigenous leader and member of the Bolivian Legislative Assembly, addresses the 16th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for her remarks. **Vídeo y transcripción en español abajo Full remarks (translated to English): I am in this forum because of indigenous women, and

Authoritarianism

From Captivity to Courage: A Journey From Nicaraguan Prison to Exile with Lesther Aleman

Lesther Aleman, Nicaraguan student leader and political activist, addresses the 16th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for his remarks. *Vídeo y transcripción en español abajo Prepared Remarks:   Good afternoon. I am Lesther Alemán Alfaro, I was born and raised in Nicaragua, and the fact

Political Prisoners

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

Australian-British academic freed after two years in Iranian prison as a victim of hostage diplomacy, Kylie Moore-Gilbert, addresses the 16th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for her remarks. Full Remarks: My name is Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert. I have very generously been invited back to

Political Prisoners

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

Gazelle Sharmahd, Iranian human rights activist and daughter of imprisoned journalist Jamshid Sharmahd, addressed the 16th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on May 15th 2024. Full remarks: My name is Gazelle Sharmahd and I wish I could be there with you today in person, but unfortunately we

Presentation of the 2024 Courage Award with Brandon Silver

Brandon Silver, Director of Policy and Projects at the Raoul Wallenberg Center for Human Rights, delivers his remarks as he presents the 2024 Geneva Summit Courage Award to Aliasghar Ramezanpour and Pouria Zeraati on behalf of Iran International.