subjects

Speeches

Egypt

Women’s Rights and the Hope for Egypt with Dalia Ziada

Dalia Ziada, one of Egypt’s leading human rights activists and Executive Director of the Center for Middle East and East Mediterranean Studies, addresses the 6th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below for full prepared remarks.   Full Remarks   Dalia Ziada: Good morning. Thank you for the introduction,

Pakistan

Gender Violence in Pakistan with Rakhshinda Perveen

Rakshinda Perveen, Pakistani survivor of gender violence, addresses the 6th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full Remarks   Rakshinda Perveen: Respected guests of honour, Human Rights heroes, ‘sheroes’, mentors, teachers, friends, colleagues. Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. I would begin by saying

Libya

Exposing Gaddafi’s Harem with Annick Cojean

Annick Cojean, special correspondent at Le Monde and the author of the internationally acclaimed Gaddafi’s Harem, addresses the 6th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full Remarks   Annik Cojean: Thank you, I’m sorry, I think I would speak in French, if you don’t mind. I can

Iran

Geneva Summit 2015 Women’s Rights Award with Masih Alinejad

Masih Alinejad, Iranian women’s rights activist, journalist, and founder of the My Stealthy Freedom campaign, addresses the 7th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full Remarks Hillel Neuer: I just want to say personally, what an honor it is for myself and my organization

Iraq

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

Iran

Let Iranian Women Enter Their Stadiums with Darya Safai

Darya Safai, Iranian women’s rights campaigner and founder of Let Iranian Women Enter Their Stadiums, addresses the 8th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On growing up in Iran: “I grew up in the religious dictatorship of the Islamic Republic

Iraq

The Girl Who Escaped ISIS with Farida Abbas Khalaf

Full Transcript Moderator: Good day to you all, my name is Jonny Gould. I am British radio and television broadcaster and journalist and today we are going to relate the story of Farida Abbas Khalaf, a Yazidi girl, from a village called Kocho in the Sinjar mountains in northern Iraq.

Democratic Republic of Congo

2018 International Women’s Rights Award with Julienne Lusenge

Congolese activist Julienne Lusenge who fights rape as a weapon of war is awarded the 2018 Women’s Rights Award before addressing the 10th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On protracted war in the Democratic Republic of Cong (DRC): “Before

FGM

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

Iran

Trailblazer: Jailed for Showing her Hair with Shaparak Shajarizadeh

Shaparak Shajarizadeh, who became a leader in the “Girls of Revolution Street” and White Wednesday civil disobedience movements in Iran and who was famously arrested in February 2018 for removing her headscarf in defiance of Iran’s compulsory hijab laws, receives the Women’s Rights Award and addresses the 12th Annual Geneva

Malawi

Ending Child Marriage with Memory Banda

Memory Banda, leading Malawian rights activist fighting to end child marriage and harmful practices against girls, recipient of the International Youth Student Award and the UN’s Young Activist Award, addresses the 12th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy — see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On

Pakistan

2021 International Women’s Rights Award with Gulalai Ismail

Gulalai Ismail, prominent Pakistani women’s rights activist and former political prisoner who escaped the country receives the 2021 International Women’s Rights Award and addresses the 13th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On growing up in Pakistan: “I grew

Afghanistan

Presentation of the 2022 Women’s Rights Award with Nazanin Boniadi

Award-nominated actress and Amnesty International Ambassador, Nazanin Boniadi, presents the 2022 Women’s Rights Award at the 14th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. Introducing Zarifa Ghafari: “I am honored to be here today, at the 2022 Geneva Summit for Human

Afghanistan

2022 Women’s Rights Award with Zarifa Ghafari, Melissa Mahtani

Full Transcript Moderator: I want to ask you, you served as Afghanistan’s youngest female mayor. But what made you run for mayor in the first place? Zarifa Ghafari: Thank you so much. Actually, first of all, I think if you believe in yourself, if you believe you’re doing right, it doesn’t

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 remarks. Full Remarks   Good morning everyone. I’m incredibly honored to be here today with you at the Geneva Summit. Thank you so much for giving me the

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 remarks in Persian, followed by the English translation and the corresponding video. Full Remarks: Persian  من از کشوری آمده‌ام که زن بودن در آن جرم است. روزنامه نگاری جرم

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 for her remarks. Full Remarks I am very honored to speak here today and I want to thank the Geneva Summit for giving me the opportunity to break the

FGM

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

Speakers

Genoveva Tisheva

Vice Chair, U.N Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women

Nimco Ali

Award-winning women’s rights activist and campaigner against FGM

Masih Alinejad

Award-winning Iranian freelance journalist and creator of ‘My Stealthy Freedom’ project encouraging women to post photos without headscarves

Shima Babaei

Activist imprisoned for removing hijab, daughter of forcibly disappeared dissident Ebrahim Babaei

Memory Banda

Leading Malawian rights activist fighting to end child marriage

Zarifa Ghafari

Youngest elected mayor in Afghanistan, survivor of three assassination attempts, forced into exile

Nila Ibrahimi

15-year-old Hazara activist who narrowly escaped the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan

Gulalai Ismail

Pakistani women’s rights activist, political prisoner and escapee after going into forced hiding

Soomaya Javadi

Young Hazara activist who fled Afghanistan following the overthrow of Kabul

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