Media

A tale of two summits: Human rights abusers condemned at one meeting, entertained at another

Scott Barber

How Cubans' Travel Rattles the Regime

To persuade the world it is reforming, the regime lets more people travel. What they say isn't reassuring.

«Je ne crois pas aux réformes de Raul Castro»

Céline Zünd Rosa Maria Paya, militante cubaine, était de passage à Genève pour un sommet sur les droits de l’homme organisé par UN Watch. Alors que le président cubain, à peine réélu, annonce sa prochaine retraite et l’arrivée d’une nouvelle équipe dirigeante, la jeune femme émet des doutes sur les réformes du gouvernement cubain

Genèves riktiga människorättskämpar

av Katarina Tracz GENÈVE Just nu sammanträder FN:s råd för mänskliga rättigheter i Genève. Men redan i förra veckan samlades människorättsaktivister från hela världen i staden. Frivärlds Katarina Tracz var där och konstaterar att FN bör göra samma sak: lyssna till de riktiga MR-kämparna.

The Sino-Tibetan Issue: Searching for a Middle Way

by Alphee September - TGJ Staff In the run up to the 22nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Kalon Dicki Chhoyang addressed the issue of Sino-Tibetan relations at the 5th Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on 19 February. This annual event gathers hundreds of dissidents, human rights victims and activists to bring urgent human rights situations to the attention of the international community.

Tibetan Man Burns Himself, Protesting China’s Policy in Tibet

VOA News - February 24, 2013 Reports just coming out of Tibet say a Tibetan man sets himself on fire at about 8 PM local time February 24, 2013 in Haidong Prefecture in Qinghai Province, Tibet.

En Mauritanie, les prèches contredisent l’appui officiel à la guerre menée par la France au Mali

Le Carnet de Colette Breackman - Le Soir - « Directement concernée par la guerre au Mali, la Mauritanie fait profil bas, mais en réalité elle risque de subir les conséquences directes de l’intervention française : c’est chez nous que les islamistes dispersés viendront se réfugier… »

"Wir Atheisten bilden eine Parallelgesellschaft"

Der Marokkaner Kassim al-Ghasali bekennt sich offen und selbstbewusst in seinen Blogs zum Atheismus. Weil er nicht mehr an den Islam glaubt, bekommt er Morddrohungen und musste seine Heimat verlassen. Von Oliver Jeges

Tom Gross: The UN’s willful ignorance of modern-day slavery

Tom Gross, National Post | Feb 25, 2013 - The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) begins its annual session in Geneva today by once again disgracing itself through the appointment of the West African country of Mauritania as its vice-president for the next year.

Exposing the UN's dirty little secrets

Daniel Schwammental - A gathering of the tortured in Geneva shames the UN Human Rights Council by giving victims not perpetrators a platform to tell their story.

North Korea prison camps 'like the Holocaust', survivors who escaped say

AFP - NORTH Korea's prison camps are a closed-off world of death, torture and forced labour where babies are born slaves, according to two survivors who liken the horrors of the camps to a Holocaust in progress.

Mukhtaran’s courage demands a higher status

Her determination needs to be used as a plank on which true social change can be built in Pakistan

Mukhtar Mai: No more martyrs and Malalas in Pakistan

Mukhtar Mai oped in the National Post | Feb 20, 2013.

Rosa-maria-paya-tengo-miedo-pero-no-van-a-poder-conmigo]Rosa María Payá: Tengo miedo, pero no van a poder conmigo

Rosa María Payá, hija del conocido disidente Oswaldo Payá, alzó su voz en Ginebra para reclamar una investigación internacional independiente que aclare las circunstancias de la muerte de su padre en un controversial accidente automovilístico en la isla.

Corée du Nord: Je maudis ma naissance dans ce camp

Céline Zünd Shin Dong-hyuk, né dans un camp de travail forcé, s’est échappé à 23 ans. Il participait mardi au Geneva Summit pour les droits de l’homme organisé par UN Watch et plusieurs ONG

Kalon Dicki Chhoyang addresses Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy

Phayul - DHARAMSHALA, February 20: A senior leader of the exile Tibetan administration has said the self-immolations by the new generation of Tibetans born under Chinese rule “are sending an unequivocal message to the world about the gravity of the situation in Tibet.”

The grave situation in Tibet raised at Geneva rights summit

Wednesday, 20 February 2013 19:58 Yeshe Choesang, The Tibet Post International- Geneva: - China must be held accountable to the pledges it made to the UN Human Rights Council, said Kalon Dicki Chhoyang in her address to the 5th Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. The conference was organised by Geneva based UN Watch and an international coalition of 20 NGOs.

Pussy Riot case shows Putin weak: bandmember's husband

AFP - Pussy Riot icon Nadezhda Tolokonnikova is behind bars, but her husband is unbowed, saying the punk band's controversial case has exposed the weaknesses in Russian President Vladimir Putin's rule.

Tibet: altri giovani si danno fuoco contro l'occupazione cinese (quota 104)

traduzioni di e. intra e s. gliedman La scia di sangue in Tibet non accenna a fermarsi, e giunge proprio oggi la notizia di altri due ragazzi che si sono dati fuoco nella provincia cinese del Sichuan, come gesto di protesta per denunciare la piaga che la nuova generazione di tibetani sta vivendo sotto il regime di Pechino. Rinchen, 17 anni, e Sonam Dargye, 18, si sono dati fuoco nella notte di martedì ed entrambi sono deceduti, secondo quanto riferiscono le fonti.

Asia Cum a devenit victima unui viol un simbol al luptei pentru drepturile femeilor din Pakistan

Conform tradiţiei locale, Mukhtar Mai ar fi trebuit să se sinucidă după ce, în 2002, a fost violată de mai mulţi bărbaţi la ordinul unui tribunal tribal din Pakistan. Atunci, la 28 de ani, viaţa i s-a schimbat profund, dar şi-a sfidat atacatorii şi, în loc să se lase distrusă de întâmplare, a început să lupte pentru drepturile femeilor din Pakistan, reuşind să devină o inspiraţie pentru multe din întreaga lume, scrie CNN.

Korban Pemerkosaan Melawan Balik! Jadi Inspirasi Dunia

oleh Elin Yunita Kristanti Korban Pemerkosaan Melawan Balik! Jadi Inspirasi Dunia Liputan6.com, Islamabad :

Support builds up for UN investigation of North Korean rights abuses

Jenifer Rees - As support has mounted for the United Nations to launch an unprecedented probe into North Korea’s human rights abuses, the UN human rights chief has declared that the time has come for a long overdue probe into the “unparalleled rights abuses in North Korea.”

Er wusste nicht, dass es Menschen gibt, die sich Zähne putzen

Shin Dong Hyuk wurde in einem Arbeitslager geboren – vor acht Jahren gelang ihm die Flucht in die Freiheit. Da wusste er nicht, dass es Menschen gibt, die sich die Zähne putzen und auch von Google hatte er vor seiner Flucht noch nie gehört. von Michael Hugentobler, Genf

Pracovné tábory v KĽDR pripomínajú holokaust, hovoria utečenci

Narodené deti v táboroch zostávajú a stávajú sa od malička otrokmi, ktorých režim zneužíva na nútené práce.

School key to ending oppression: Mai

Pakistani gang rape victim Mukhtar Mai, who gained prominence for her outspoken stance on the oppression of women, poses on Tuesday during the Geneva Summit for Human Right and Democracy in Geneva. — AFP

Pussy Riot: marginals to protest symbol in a year

By Anna Malpas (AFP) MOSCOW — One year ago five young women walked into Moscow's Church of Christ the Saviour, climbed over railings and pulled on balaclavas, before launching into a shouted-out song denouncing the Church's relations with Vladimir Putin.

Gang rape victim fights back for girls' education

By Catriona Davies, CNN February 19, 2013 Pakistani gang rape victim Mukhtar Mai, who gained prominence for her outspoken stance on the oppression of women, poses on February 19, 2013 during the Summit for Human Rights and Democracy in Geneva.

Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Kazakh Activists Attend Human Rights Summit In Geneva

Activists from Iran, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Sudan, Syria, and Tibet are taking part in the fifth Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy.

Des rescapés de camps nord-coréens témoignent

Des rescapés des camps nord-coréens ont témoigné mardi à Genève lors d'une réunion organisée par une coalition de 20 ONG.

Rosa María Payá en Cumbre de DD HH en Ginebra

Este martes se realiza en Ginebra, Suiza, la Quinta Cumbre de Derechos Humanos, que reune a activistas de todo el mundo.

Pyongyang menace Séoul de «destruction finale»

GENÈVE — En pleine Conférence du désarmement à Genève, les représentants de la Corée du Nord ont menacé la Corée du Sud de «destruction finale», créant l'indignation des délégations présentes.

Deux Nord-Coréens échappés de leur pays témoignent des atrocités des camps

La faim, la torture, la violence extrême des gardiens... L'un d'eux a été forcé d'assister à l'exécution de sa propre mère.

Témoignage de Shin Dong-Hyuk, exilé nord-coréen

Shin Dong-Hyuk est un exilé nord-coréen qui est né dans un camp de prisonniers en Corée du Nord. Il y a vécu 23 ans avant de s’échapper. Aujourd’hui, il a 30 ans. Il est à Genève aujourd’hui pour participer au Geneva Summit sur les droits humains. Par Céline Tzaud.

Demanda hija del activista cubano Oswaldo Payá se indague su muerte

Por NTX | Notimex – mar, 19 feb 2013 Ginebra, 19 Feb (Notimex).- Rosa María Payá, hija del activista cubano Oswaldo Payá, quien murió en julio del año pasado, afirmó que la muerte de su padre no fue un accidente y demandó una investigación internacional independiente que aclare las circunstancias de su deceso.

‘The world does not give a damn’: Marina Nemat Tehran, Iran

By Nikole Wintermeier ‘Silence is a weapon of mass destruction’, Marina Nemat shouts into the microphone. Passionate and angry, Nemat explains her story and finishes by urging the international community to speak up and offer her the microphone instead of the Islamic officials responsible for the crimes against humanity. Raped, tortured and forced to marry her interrogator, Marina Nemat spent her teenage years in perpetual darkness.

Interview with Kacem el Ghazzali

By starkmannat Europe’s closest African neighbor, Morocco, might not be as European as we all thought. Kacem el Ghazzali came to speak today at the Geneva Summit for Human Rights to inform the world of the oppression he has faced for his outspoken atheism. Mr. Ghazzali was heavily persecuted throughout high school, so much so that he was forced to drop out. He is a public advocate for freedom of religion, speech, and thought, promoting his views through the media. Mr. Ghazzali is a member of the Executive Board of the Moroccan Blogger Association and CyberDissidents.org Blogger Board, as well as the author of the Bahmut blog, one of the most challenging and contentious blog in the Islamic world. His works and public calls for secularization of government and protection of human rights have made his life so oppressive in Morocco, he has been forced to seek asylum in Switzerland.

The change we want in the world “will happen with education.” – Mukhtar Mai

By Spencer Kimball The bold speakers of the “Summit for Human Rights and Democracy” formed the consensus that education could help solve the world’s problems. With endless issues plaguing the world, education can help prevent disasters of many kinds.

Modern Day Slavery

By Nikole Wintermeier Mauritania: a society built on modern-day slavery, racism, exclusion and rejection of a lower class of black people. Resembling modern apartheid that existed in South Africa, laws regulating slavery are passed based on religious fatouahs, backed by the countries leaders and ignored by the international community.

“Our silence is a weapon of mass destruction”

By Celine Stibolt Marina Nemat is an incredible woman. Imprisoned at the age of 16, she was held and tortured for 2 years, 2 months and 12 days. She lived a life no one deserves.

«La Suisse doit mettre dans la balance pétrole kazakh et droits de l’homme»

Le journaliste Lukpan Akhmedyarov, victime d’un attentat en avril, témoigne à Genève de son combat pour la liberté

Visite de Hui Liangyu en Suisse: entretien avec Dicky Chhoyang, responsable tibétaine des Affaires étrangères

El régimen castrista permite a la hija de Payá viajar a España y Suiza

LUIS AYLLÓN-abc_es / MADRID Rosa María Payá ha llegado a Madrid y participará en Ginebra en un foro sobre derechos humanos

La hija de Oswaldo Payá llega a España

Viajará a Suiza para participar en un foro sobre derechos humanos VICTORIA GARCIA 16-02-2013

Gobierno de Cuba otorga permiso para salir del país a Rosa María Payá

LA HABANA, 16 Feb. 13 / 10:18 am (ACI/EWTN Noticias).- Rosa María Payá, hija del fallecido líder del Movimiento Cristiano Liberación (MCL) de Cuba, Oswaldo Payá, viajó hoy a España, luego de que el gobierno de Cuba finalmente le otorgara el permiso para salir del país.

Pussy Riot à Genève

Article d'Alain Jourdain dans la Tribune de Genève du 12 février 2013

Syrie: Témoignage «J’AI ÉTÉ TORTURÉE, J'AI TOUT PERDU»

Un an après le début de la crise, Hadeel Kouky est venue témoigner à l’ONU des horreurs qu’elle a subies dans son pays. Pour avoir manifesté pacifiquement, la jeune femme de 20 ans raconte avoir passé 52 jours en prison, où elle a été violée, torturée à l’électricité, puis contrainte à l’exil.

Radio Cité: rencontre avec Michel Tran Duc

Interview of Michel Tran Duc, Vietnamese Activist in the programme "Rencontre" of Radio Cité

Christian woman arrested for blasphemy as petition goes to UN on Asia Bibi's behalf

Fifty activists and intellectuals make an appeal for her release to the government of Pakistan at the United Nations Human Rights Council. Signatories slam poor prison conditions and abuses based on the 'black law'. Meanwhile, another case unfolds in Lahore where a 26-year-old woman is charged for refusing to convert to Islam.

Tom Gross: The true face of ‘human rights’ at the UN

GENEVA — I have spent the past few days in Geneva with some of the most remarkably brave people one is ever likely to meet. All have suffered horrendously for calling for freedoms in their countries — the kind of freedoms that people elsewhere take for granted.

Radio Cité: rencontre avec Anne-Isabelle Tollet

Interview de Anne-Isabelle Tollet pour l'émission rencontre de Radio Cité

Jacques Beres, 71-Year-Old France War Surgeon, Smuggles Himself Into Syria To Save Lives

French war surgeon Jacques Beres, who just came back from Homs, Syria, testifies on humanitarian situation in Syria, during a panel "Massacre in Syria: Victim testimonies" at the 4th Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy at the International Conference Center in Geneva (CICG), in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, March 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Keystone/Salvatore Di Nolfi) .

Un disidente cubano denuncia el aumento de la represión en Cuba

Ginebra -- El disidente cubano residente en España Néstor Rodríguez Lobaina denunció hoy el “aumento exponencial” de la represión en los últimos meses en Cuba a la par que se producía la “Primavera Árabe”, unas revoluciones que han pasado inadvertidas a causa de la “total censura” que impera en la isla.

Siria, cofondatore Medici senza frontiere: Ci sono stato, è un inferno

Ginevra (Svizzera), 13 mar. (LaPresse/AP) - Il chirurgo francese Jacques Beres, cofondatore di Medici senza frontiere e Doctors of the world, ha raccontato di essere stato in Siria entrando clandestinamente e ha definito il bagno di sangue del quale è stato testimone "tra i peggiori che abbia mai visto".

DIRITTI UMANI: CONTINI (FLI), IMPORTANTE CONTINUARE A PROMUOVERLI

AGENPARL) - Roma, 13 mar - “L’importanza di questa assise è indiscutibile, ma dobbiamo riflettere sul perché qui ognuno parla della politica del proprio paese, con scarsissimo interesse a parlare di pace, di libertà, di giustizia e di verità.

Aktivisten fordern verstärkten Druck auf repressive Regimes

Mehrere bekannte Aktivisten aus verschiedenen Ländern haben sich am Dienstag in Genf getroffen. Sie riefen die internationale Gemeinschaft auf, den Druck auf repressive Regimes - darunter China, Nordkorea, Kuba, Burma und Iran - zu verstärken.

Französischer Arzt berichtet von «Massenmord» in Syrien

Gipfel für Menschenrechte und Demokratie in Genf

UN human rights body raises global awareness of defectors

The 19th session of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva raised global attention Monday to the plight of North Korean defectors in China.

Les pays les plus répressifs villipendés

Une dizaine de dissidents célèbres pour leur combat ont vilipendé mardi à Genève les régimes les plus répressifs au monde, dont la Chine, la Corée du Nord, Cuba, la Birmanie et l'Iran.

‘This is hell,’ French war surgeon says of carnage in Syrian city of Homs

French surgeon Jacque Beres who recently returned to Paris from Syria describes the bloodbath he saw there as among the most horrific he has ever witnessed in his 40 years of work in war zones.

"Je n’ai jamais vu une telle cruauté"

Jacques Bérés a vu I’horreur. Cache dans un logement, le chirurgien français a opéré a même le sol. II témoigne. Interview

Al Arabia: Interview of Hadeel Kouki

Interview of Hadeel Kouki, Syrian activist in Al Arabia

Petition: Free Pakistani Christian woman set for execution

(CNN) -- Activists presented a petition Tuesday to the United Nations Human Rights Council calling on Pakistan to free a Christian mother of five from being put to death on the charge of blasphemy.

RSI: Report on the Geneva Summit

RSI report on the Geneva Summit. Interview of Nestor Rodriguez Lobaina, Cuban dissident and Joo-Il Kim North Korean defector

I was raped and tortured by the Iranian regime

The UN must do much more to stop human rights abuses

Les Nations Unies accueilleront mardi à Genève une activiste syrienne, Hadil Kouki, 20 ans

Cette jeune femme a connu les geôles syriennes pendant cinquante-deux jours pour avoir participé aux manifestations dans le Nord du pays et avoir secouru des révolutionnaires blessés....

Lawmakers tussle with NK diplomat at UN session

GENEVA (Yonhap) -- A scuffle broke out between a North Korean diplomat and South Korean lawmakers Monday at a U.N. session on the communist nation's human rights abuses.

De retour de Homs, un chirurgien témoigne

De retour de Syrie, Jacques Bérès est l'irvité d'honneur du le Somrnet de Genève pour la démocratie et les droits de I'homme.

Interview of Jacques Beres, war doctor

The French speaking Swiss TV (tsr) has interviewed on February 27, Dr. Jacques Bérès, war surgeon who just came back from Homs.

CBN.com: Assad's Thugs Beat Syrian Christian Activist in Cairo

The Syrian government has a long history of restricting Christian activity.The Assad (Alawite minority) regime--for the most part--has left Christians alone.

SwissInfo.ch: “The fight should continue”

Despite the chaotic “work-in-progress” democracies emerging in Tunisia and Egypt after revolutions in both countries, activists remain upbeat.

Fox News: Political Prisoner in Cuba Being Abused, Rights Group Says

Said to be in his 40’s, Rodríguez Lobaina is one of Cuba’s most high profile dissidents. Last year he was invited by organizers of the Geneva Summit to be a speaker at their Summit for Human Rights, Tolerance and Democracy.

La Tribune de Geneve: La Chronique De Guy Mettan Timor et Djibouti à la une

Le 2 e Sommet de Genève pour les droits de l'homme, la tolérance et la démocratie a également eu lieu la semaine dernière en marge du CDH. Réuni à l'initiative d'une vingtaine d'ONG, dont UN Watch, la Licra et Freedom House, il a donné la parole pendant deux jours à des dissidents, des anciens prisonniers politiques et diverses personnalités des cinq continents: Iran, Corée du Nord, Afghanistan, Chine, Cuba, Birmanie, Tibet, Soudan, Zimbabwe ont ainsi passé sur le gril.

Il Legno Storto: "Il Summit di Ginevra per i Diritti umani"

Oltre alle analisi dello studioso cinese, la sessione ha dato spazio alla toccante esperienza personale della monaca tibetana Phuntsok Nyidron, che dopo aver ringraziato la comunità internazionale per il supporto offerto alla sua causa, ha ripercorso i lunghi anni di detenzione nelle prigioni cinesi per avere partecipato a una manifestazione di protesta....

Office of Tibet News Online: "Tibetans Participate In Human Rights Summit in Geneva"

The Second Geneva Summit on Human Rights, Tolerance and Democracy is being organised jointly by over 25 human rights groups from across the globe...

L'Agence télégraphique suisse (ATS): "La conférence des ONG condamne la censure sur internet"

Dans une Déclaration sur la liberté de l'Internet, adoptée mardi soir, les participants condamnent le Bélarus, la Birmanie, la Chine, Cuba, l'Egypte, l'Ethiopie, l'Iran, la Corée du Nord, l'Arabie saoudite, la Syrie, la Tunisie, le Turménistan, l'Ouzbékistan et le Vietnam...

Inter Press Service - Spanish: "EEUU: INTERNET COMO HERRAMIENTA DE POLÍTICA EXTERIOR"

El cambio de política del Departamento del Tesoro fue un "gran paso", dijo el director de políticas de comunicación de Google, Bob Boorstin, en una conferencia de derechos humanos convocada por organizaciones de derechos humanos en Ginebra esta semana....

Agence France Presse: "Le fiancé de l'Iranienne Neda a repris son combat pour la démocratie"

Neda Agha-Soltan a été tuée d'une balle à la poitrine le 20 juin 2009 lors d'une manifestation post-électorale à Téhéran. Publiées sur l'internet, les images de sa mort captées par téléphone portable, notamment son visage ensanglanté, avaient suscité l'indignation....

Le Temps: "Le témoignage poignant du fiancé de Neda"

De passage à Genève, Caspian Makan parle de celle qui est devenue l’égérie du mouvement vert, assassinée par les miliciens de la République islamique. Il raconte aussi sa fuite par les montagnes, sa nécessité d’exprimer sa douleur...

Intellectual Property Watch: "Google, ITU Address Policies Of Global Internet Freedom"

Google's Bob Boorstin and Alexander Ntoko, head of corporate strategy at the ITU, spoke today at the 8-9 March Geneva Summit for Human Rights, Tolerance and Democracy... The Geneva Summit today announced a “Declaration on Internet Freedom” which...

El Financiero: "Activistas denuncian represión y torturas en Irán y Cuba"

La Segunda Cumbre sobre los Derechos Humanos, la Tolerancia y la Democracia se celebró hoy en esta ciudad con la denuncia de activistas sobre actos de represión y tortura en Irán y Cuba...

Spanish News Agency EFE: "El novio de la joven iraní muerta ante las cámaras pide valentía para luchar contra régimen"

El que fue prometido de la joven Neda Agha-Solta, muerta ante las cámaras durante las protestas antigubernamentales en Teherán, pidió hoy "valentía a los iraníes para plantarse y luchar contra el Gobierno" de Mahmud Ahmadineyad, y cambiar un régimen que "no respeta los derechos humanos"...

Radio Free Europe: "Google Welcomes U.S. Easing Of Internet Export Rules For Iran, Others"

Robert Boorstin, head of Google's communications division, told the forum that Google has sponsored conferences allowing activists to get together and talk about the latest methods authoritarian regimes are using to block access to the Internet -- as well as developments on how to circumvent information blockades. "It's not something that I really, frankly, want to talk about publicly -- for obvious reasons...

ANSA Notiziario Generale: "GOOGLE: AZIENDA, CENSURA PEGGIORA NEL MONDO, CASO ITALIA"

"La censura su Internet sta peggiorando e diventando più sofisticata", ha detto Boorstin. "Più di 40 Paesi hanno fatto ricorso alla censura a un momento o un altro e Google è stata interrotta in 25 Paesi", ha affermato in un intervento nel corso del secondo Summit di Ginevra sui diritti umani, la tolleranza e la democrazia, promosso da organizzazioni non governative quali UnWatch e Freedom House...

ANSA Notiziario Generale: "USA: GOOGLE, BENE A REVOCA EMBARGO WEB A IRAN, SUDAN"

"E' un grande risultato" ha detto Robert Boorstin, direttore della comunicazione di Google nel corso di un dibattito internazionale a Ginevra su Internet, la censura ed i diritti umani. "Speriamo che aiuti attivisti di tutto il mondo. E' un piccolo passo su un lungo cammino da percorrere", ha affermato Boorstin....

ANSA English Media Service: "WEB CENSORSHIP UP SAYS GOOGLE"

"More than 40 countries have resorted to censorship at one time or another and Google has been interrupted in 25 countries," he told the second annual Summit for Human Rights, Tolerance and Democracy, sponsored by non-governmental organisations like UN Watch and Freedom House. Boorstin stressed he did not "want to compare repressive regimes like Burma with Western democracies"...

Wall Street Journal: "Friend and Faux on Human Rights; Iran bids to join the U.N.’s rights body"

Some of the world’s most courageous champions of human rights will convene today, Monday, March 8, in Geneva, seat of the United Nations’s Human Rights Council. But don’t expect the Council itself to welcome these distinguished visitors. The Geneva Summit-organized by groups such as U.N. Watch and Freedom House, and chaired by Poland’s Lech Walesa and the Czech Republic’s Vaclav Havel-will bring together political dissidents from China, Iran and Burma, rights activists for the Tibetan and Uighur peoples, a survivor of the North Korean gulag, plus a former Sudanese slave named Simon Deng... In Geneva today, the real truth tellers will be [at the Geneva Summit]...

Radio Free Europe: "Shadow Summit In Geneva Focusing On Neglected Rights Issues"

Dissidents, diplomats, and NGO representatives from around the world have gathered in Geneva for a two-day summit aimed at giving voice to victims of the world’s worst human rights abuses...

L'Agence télégraphique suisse (ATS): "Rendez-vous des dissidents à Genève"

Les dissidents de plusieurs pays ont témoigné lundi à Genève des pires violations des droits de l'homme. Réunis pendant deux jours à l'appel de 25 ONG, ils ont lancé un appel à la liberté sur Internet, en marge de la réunion du Conseil des droits de l'homme...

ANSA Notiziario Generale in Italiano: "DIRITTI UMANI: 'SUMMIT' DISSIDENTI A GINEVRA"

Il Summit ha dato oggi la parola a personaggi quali Rebya Kadeer, militante del popolo uighuro, Caspian Makan, attivista iraniano e fidanzato di Neda Agha Soltan, uccisa il 22 giugno 2009 mentre partecipava a Teheran alle manifestazioni di protesta successive alle elezioni presidenziali, Massouda Jalal, ex ministro afgano per le donne, o l'attivista birmano Bo Kyi....

Tribune de Geneve: "ÉCHOSONUSIENS"

AU CICG Le 8 et 9 mars 2010, des dissidents de renommée internationale, des activistes des droits de l'homme et des experts se réunissent à Genève, pour appeler à agir contre les violations des droits de l'homme, pour soutenir les dissidents dans le monde et pour lancer un appel pour la liberté de l'internet.

L'Agence télégraphique suisse (ATS): "Un dissident cubain empêché de venir à Genève"

L'évocation, devant le Conseil des Droits de l'homme, de Néstor Rodrìguez Lobaina, a causé la colère de la délégation cubaine, a-t-on appris vendredi. Ce dissident n'a pas pu quitter Cuba, alors qu'il devait assister lundi à une conférence d'ONG à Genève...

Television Suisse Romande: "Entretien avec Caspian Makan, fiancé de Neda" (video)

On Monday March 15th, Interview by Darius Rochebin on Swiss TV (TSR) of Caspian Makan, fiancé of Neda Agha Soltan, killed on camera by a sniper's bullet on the streets of Tehran during a demonstration...

New York Times: "Nelson Mandela’s Captive Audience: My Hero, Page by Page"

New York Times op-ed by Geneva Summit co-organizer Ko Bo Kyi...

Human Rights Heroes Heading to Geneva Rights Summit on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013

GENEVA, Feb. 14 – This Tuesday, February 19th—days before Britain's William Hague and dozens of other foreign ministers assemble in Geneva to open the annual session of the UN Human Rights Council—a cross-regional coalition of 20 human rights groups will gather courageous dissidents, democracy activists and diplomats for the 5th annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, in a bid to focus attention on urgent situations of gross human rights abuse.

Survivors of North Korean Concentration Camps to Headline Geneva Rights Summit on Feb. 19, 2013

GENEVA, Feb. 11 – The growing push by UN officials, diplomats and campaigners for an international inquiry into North Korea’s vast archipelago of political prison camps, to be debated soon at the UN Human Rights Council, will get a massive boost next week when two of the gulag’s most famous survivors will testify before a parallel Geneva summit of dissidents and democracy activists.

Activist Husband of Pussy Riot Prisoner to Headline Geneva Rights Summit on Feb. 19, 2013

GENEVA, February 4 – Russia’s imprisonment of Pussy Riot musician Nadya Tolokonnikova will be spotlighted this month at the seat of the United Nations Human Rights Council, when her activist husband joins top-name dissidents from Iran, Tibet and Syria for the 5th annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, on February 19, 2013.

Pakistani Victim of Gang Rape “Justice,” Turned Women's Rights Campaigner, to Headline Geneva Rights Summit on Feb. 19, 2013

Women’s rights activist Mukhtar Mai, who made world headlines when she was gang raped as a “punishment” ordered by a Pakistani tribal council, will join other top-name dissidents and activists from Iran, Tibet, Syria and China, for the 5th Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, on February 19, 2013.

Session I: The Struggle for Reform

Brief resume of the first session of the Geneva Summit.

Opening

Opening remarks by Hillel Neuer and Dr. Yand Jianli

Session I Questions and Answers

Resume of the Q&A of the first session of the Geneva Summit.

Session II: Defying Totalitarian Regimes

Speeches made by Ren Wanding, Joo-il Kim, Song-Ju Kim, Nestor Rodriguez Lobaina, and Kalden Tsomo

Session II Questions and Answers

Session IV: Beyond the Arab Spring

speeches from Maikel Nabil and Ebrahim Mehtari

Session III: Blasphemy Laws & Honour Killings

Session IV Questions and Answers

Session V: Massacre in Syria: Victim Testimonies Part 1

Speech by Jaques Beres

Session III Questions and Answers

Session V Questions and Answers—Part 1

Session V: Massacre in Syria: Victim Testimonies Part 2

speech by Hadeel Kouki

Session V Questions and Answers—Part 2

Syrian Inferno: Heroic Doctor Who Saved Lives to Give Eyewitness Account at Geneva Rights Summit

"Civilians are being massacred" Gathering Seen as Influential Complement to UN Human Rights Council Debate

20-year-old Syrian female activist beaten in Egypt on eve of Geneva testimony at UN rights council

A 20-year-old Syrian activist who is about to testify before the UN rights council in Geneva was beaten in her Cairo apartment today. Hadeel Kouki, whose full story is described in the dispatch below by the blogger Ahed Al Hendi, was invited to address a March 13th gathering of dissidents—the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy—and to address a session of the UN Human Rights Council, which opens on Monday.

Blogger Maikel Nabil, Just Released from Egyptian Prison, to Headline Geneva Rights Summit on March 13th, 2012

A student blogger just released from Egyptian prison, made famous by the global campaign that mobilized on his behalf, and other top-name dissidents from Syria, Burma, Iran and China are expected to be among the biggest newsmakers at the 4th Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, on March 13, 2012.

Leading Dissidents to Headline Human Rights Issues at Global Summit on March 13th, 2012

Geneva Gathering Seen as Influential Complement to UN Human Rights Council Debate

World-Renowned Tiananmen Square Dissident to Address Tomorrow’s Geneva Rights Summit

Yang Jianli, the world-renowned Chinese dissident and survivor of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, will join other former prisoners of conscience tomorrow for the third annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. Dr. Yang, who served a five-year jail term in China for his social activism, will speak about the situation of jailed writer Liu Xiaobo, whom he represented at the Oslo Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in December.

Dissidents Gather for Geneva Rights Summit

500 Dissidents, Victims, Activists from 40 Countries will appeal for action. Follow Live Webcast & updates on Twitter, Blog, YouTube and Facebook

Iran stoning case lawyer heading to next week’s Geneva rights summit

The Iranian lawyer of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, the 43 year old mother of two who was sentenced to death by stoning on charges of adultery, will join other prominent human rights defenders at the third annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, on March 15, 2011. Mohammad Mostafaei is credited with saving the lives of over 50 clients.

Libyan dissident Mohamed Eljahmi heading to Geneva

It was announced today that Mohamed Eljahmi, one of the world's most well-known Libyan dissidents, will join other prominent human rights defenders as a speaker at the third annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, on March 15, 2011.

Leading Ugandan LGBT activist to speak at Geneva Summit

Jacqueline Kasha, FARUG Coordinator and close associate of murdered activist David Kato, will discuss her fight for LGBT rights in Uganda

Dissidents, Ex-Political Prisoners Organizing Geneva Summit to Urge Help from UN Rights Council

Dissidents to propose draft resolutions on Egypt, China, Iran, Zimbabwe & other hotspots; summit organized by global coalition of 20 NGOs

Media Advisory: "Human Rights Summit Opens Today in Geneva; 800 Victims, Dissidents, Activists, Diplomats Participating From 67 Countries"

Today and tomorrow, March 8-9, 2010, renowned dissidents, rights activists and experts will come together in Geneva, Switzerland, to urge action against rights abusers, boost democracy dissidents worldwide, and issue a call for internet freedom...

Press Release: "Cuba Bars Dissident From Attending Geneva Rights Summmit; 30 NGOs Appeal for UN Intervention"

Cuba created a stir at the UN Human Rights Council today when its envoy began banging his country name-plate on the table to interrupt a speech about a political prisoner, who is being blocked from going to a Geneva conference for dissidents this Monday...

Press Release: Fiancé of Neda, Iran's Slain ‘Angel of Freedom,’ Heading to Geneva Rights Summit

One day after Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told the UN in Geneva that President Ahmadinejad's June election was "an exemplary exhibition of democracy and freedom," Caspian Makan, the fiancé of slain Iranian icon Neda Agha Soltan, announced today that he will join other world-famous dissidents as a speaker at next Monday's Geneva Summit for Human Rights, Tolerance and Democracy, co-organized by UN Watch, Freedom House, Ibuka and more than 20 other human rights NGOs....

Press Release: "Google to address rights summit on Web freedom"

Google is sending one of its senior executives to address a March gathering of political dissidents for internet freedom, according to an announcement today by 25 activist groups organizing the 2nd Geneva Summit for Human Rights, Tolerance and Democracy...

Communique de Presse: "Dissidents et anciens prisonniers politiques organisent le Sommet de Genève"

Le 8 et 9 Mars 2010, en parallèle et en soutien de la session annuelle du Conseil des Droits de l’Homme de l’ONU, des dissidents de renommée internationale, des activistes des droits de l’homme et des experts se réuniront à Genève, en Suisse, pour appeler à agir contre les violations des droits de l’homme, pour soutenir les dissidents dans le monde et pour lancer un appel pour la liberté de l’Internet...

Media Advisory: "Dissidents, Ex-Political Prisoners Organizing Geneva Rights Summit"

On March 8-9, 2010, to enhance the annual session of the UN Human Rights Council, renowned dissidents, rights activists and experts will come together in Geneva, Switzerland, to urge action against rights abusers, boost democracy dissidents worldwide, and issue a call for internet freedom. The second annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights, Tolerance and Democracy, to be held at the Geneva International Conference Center, is organized by a global civil society coalition of 25 human rights groups, including UN Watch, Ibuka, Freedom House, and Burmese, Tibetan and Zimbabwean organizations (see list below), with support from the Canton of Geneva...