Geneva Summit Recognized as McGill Awards Honorary Doctorate to Hillel Neuer

MONTREAL, June 5, 2018 – McGill University today recognized the important work of the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy when it awarded its highest honor to its founding chair, Hillel Neuer, executive director of the Geneva-based UN Watch.

In its citation, McGill recognized the Geneva Summit as “a cross-regional coalition of 25 non-governmental organizations that, over the past decade, have successfully placed an international spotlight on urgent human rights situations,” giving a global platform to “courageous dissidents and champions of human rights from around the world.”

Neuer was awarded a Doctorate of Laws, honoris causa, for his work to advance peace, justice and human rights. See full citation at bottom.

In his convocation address, Neuer dedicated the award to dissidents and political prisoners, and he spoke of the inspiring example set by Geneva Summit speakers Yang Jianli of China, Rosa Maria Paya of Cuba, and Vladimir Kara-Murza of Russia.

Human rights activists, dissidents, and former political prisoners from around the world, together with other public figures, have welcomed the award; see statements and tweets below.

Yang Jianli, former political prisoner, leading Chinese human rights dissident: 
Congratulations to Hillel Neuer on being selected by McGill University for an Honorary Doctorate of Laws. Hillel surely deserves such an honor. Hillel is one of the world’s most committed, energetic human rights leaders. He has helped the cause of human rights and democracy in many countries including my homeland China particularly by giving us a platform at the United Nations. His constant and passionate voices stirs the consciences of the world’s statesmen and the public and rallies diplomats, scholars, activists, students and business people to the cause of defending basic human freedoms within the borders of the most powerful countries such as China, which so many world leaders are afraid of confronting about human rights issues. I can never thank Hillel enough for the wonderful work he does.

Rosa Maria Paya, leading Cuban human rights dissident

So proud of Hillel Neuer, selected by McGill University for an Honorary Doctorate of Laws.

Más que merecido reconocimiento a @HillelNeuer que se enfrenta todos los días al poder de las dictaduras en el seno de @UN en defensa de los derechos humanos.

Caracas mayor Antonio Ledezma, former political prisoner, leading Venezuelan opposition figure
Felicidades a por ser elegido en Uni McGill Doc Honoris Causa. Lider de UN Watch y pte de Cumbre de Ginebra por DDHH, luchador desde la ONU por la libertad de los presos políticos venezolanos y los derechos humanos del pueblo de Venezuela

 

Exiled Turkish journalist and human rights dissident Yavuz Baydar
The decision by McGill University to choose Hillel Neuer for an Honorary Doctorate is without a doubt an excellent one. It’s been an honour for me to know Hillel for a long time to observe how dedicated he has been in making freedom fighters all across the world to be heard. His special concern was on Turkey, and the constant deterioriation of rights and freedoms there, which meant that Hillel has remained engaged in giving the floor to Turkish journalists, intellectuals, and human rights defenders from my country bringing their plight to the attention of the world. Hillel is an utterly important figure in the context against the oppression, and this choice was a well-deserved one.’ 

Ugandan LGBT activist Kasha Jacqueline
A well deserved honor. On my own behalf and that of the LGBTIQ people in Uganda and the world at large, I thank you for always giving us a platform & a network to share our plight, joys & hopes for a more secure ,peaceful and a just world. I congratulate you comrade. 

Cuban human rights activist John Suarez
Congratulations to Hillel Neuer for being recognized with a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from McGill University for his defense of human rights. Cuban human rights defenders owe a debt of gratitude to Hillel and UN Watch for their solidarity over the past 15 years. 

Canadian human rights icon Irwin Cotler
Delighted that Hille lNeuer — one of the best of my former students and courageous human rights warrior — will be receiving an Honorary Doctorate from our joint alma matter McGill. Hillel is one of the most eloquent and effective advocates today for human rights of the most vulnerable. As the McGill citation put it, “Hillel has been an innovator at the UN in creating global platforms for courageous dissidents and champions of human rights from around the world” — and I’ve been privileged to participate in these incredible forums that have international resonance.

Canadian Senator Linda Frum
So delighted to learn that Hillel Neuer of UN Watch will be awarded a well deserved Honorary Doctorate of Laws from McGill University. Hillel Neuer is one of the great human rights champions of our time. In a life devoted to promotion of truth, justice and freedom, Neuer is a true giant.

Leading campaigner against Russian human rights abuses Bill Browder
Congratulations to Hillel Neuer for being awarded an honorary doctorate at McGill University for his pioneering work on human rights. He has dedicated his life to helping victims of human rights abuse and speaking truth to power of institutions like the UN who should be doing more.

Jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi

 

 

Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
HILLEL C. NEUER
B.A. (Concordia University), B.C.L./LL.B. (McGill University), LL.M. (Hebrew University)

McGill alumni Hillel Neuer is an international lawyer, writer, and the Executive Director of UN Watch, a human rights NGO that supports the just and apolitical application of the values and principles of the United Nations Charter.

Prior to joining UN Watch, he practiced commercial and civil rights litigation at the international law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, where he represented high profile individuals and corporations. Active as a defender of human rights, he challenged the New York State prison system in Reynolds v. Goord, a precedent-setting First Amendment case for prisoners’ rights and freedom of religion, published in the AIDS Litigation Digest. Mr. Neuer was cited for the high quality of his pro bono advocacy by the United States Federal Court, as reported in the New York Law Journal. In Hines v. Widnall, he challenged the United States Air Force as an advocate for African-Americans claiming a pattern and practice of racial discrimination in hiring and promotions. As an international lawyer, he helped five Bulgarian nurses win a major case in their torture complaint against Libya, Nenova et al. v. Libya, before the United Nations Human Rights Committee.

Mr. Neuer has testified regularly before the United Nations Human Rights Council on behalf of victims in Darfur, China, Russia, and Venezuela, and the cause of peace in the Middle East. He has been an innovator at the UN in creating global platforms for courageous dissidents and champions of human rights from around the world. As founder and chair of the annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, he leads a cross-regional coalition of 25 non-governmental organizations that, over the past decade, have successfully placed an international spotlight on urgent human rights situations.

An expert on UN and human rights issues, Mr. Neuer has been quoted by the New York Times, Die Welt, and Le Monde, and has appeared in debates on CNN, BBC, and Al Jazeera. U.S. Congressman Howard Berman, speaking as Ranking Member in the House Foreign Affairs Committee, described him as “one of the strongest and most informed critics of the UN Human Rights Council.”

The Honourable Irwin Cotler, human rights advocate and lawyer, has said that “if you want to pursue justice, you must feel the injustice around you.” Hillel Neuer lives by those words and has been a voice for those without one. UN Watch has been a lone voice for truth and for justice both at the “Parliament of Man” and in the international media. Admired for his achievements, the City of Chicago declared September 15, 2016 to be “Hillel Neuer Day.”

Doctorat en droit, honoris causa
HILLEL C. NEUER
B. A. (Université Concordia), B. C. L./LL. B. (Université McGill), LL. M. (Université hébraïque de Jérusalem)

Diplômé de McGill, Hillel Neuer est un avocat international, écrivain et directeur général de UN Watch, une ONG de défense des droits de la personne chargée d’appuyer l’application juste et apolitique des valeurs et des principes de la Charte de l’ONU.

Avant de se joindre à UN Watch, il a pratiqué le litige civil et commercial au sein du cabinet d’avocats international Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, où il a représenté des particuliers et des entreprises célèbres. Défenseur des droits de la personne, M. Neuer a défié le système carcéral de l’État de New York dans l’affaire Reynolds contre Goord, un cas qui a fait jurisprudence en matière de droits des prisonniers et de liberté de religion (publié dans la revue AIDS Litigation Digest). La Cour fédérale des États-Unis a salué la grande qualité des services bénévoles offerts par monsieur Neuer (New York Law Journal). Dans l’affaire Hines contre Widnall, il a représenté un groupe d’Afro-Américains qui jugeaient discriminatoires les pratiques des Forces aériennes des États-Unis en matière d’embauche et de promotion. À titre d’avocat international, il a aidé cinq infirmières bulgares victimes de torture en Libye à remporter une cause majeure devant le Comité des droits de l’homme des Nations unies.

M. Neuer a dû régulièrement témoigner devant le Conseil des droits de l’homme des Nations unies au nom des victimes du Darfour, de la Chine, de la Russie et du Venezuela, et pour défendre la cause de la paix au Moyen-Orient. Il a su innover au sein de l’ONU par la création de plateformes mondiales à l’intention des courageux dissidents et des militants pour les droits de la personne aux quatre coins du monde. Président fondateur du Sommet de Genève pour les droits humains et la démocratie, il dirige une coalition interrégionale formée de 25 organisations non gouvernementales qui, depuis dix ans, sont parvenues à attirer l’attention du monde sur des situations urgentes.

Expert de l’ONU et des droits de la personne, monsieur Neuer a été cité par le New York Times, Die Welt et Le Monde, et il a pris part à des débats sur les ondes de CNN, de la BBC et d’Al Jazeera. Howard Berman, membre du Congrès des États-Unis qui s’exprimait en sa qualité de membre de haut rang de la commission des affaires étrangères de la Chambre des représentants, l’a décrit comme « l’un des critiques les plus solides et les mieux informés au sein du Conseil des droits de l’homme de l’ONU ».

L’honorable Irwin Cotler, avocat et défenseur des droits de la personne, a mentionné que « pour servir les intérêts de la justice, il faut d’abord reconnaître l’injustice ». Or, Hillel Neuer vit en accord avec ce principe, donnant une voix à ceux qui n’en ont pas. UN Watch s’est fait le défenseur de la vérité et de la justice au Parlement de l’humanité ainsi que dans les médias du monde entier. Pour rendre hommage à ses réalisations exceptionnelles, la Ville de Chicago a déclaré le 15 septembre 2016 la Journée Hillel Neuer.

Related

Human Rights

Why We Have to Fight Together with María-Alejandra Aristeguieta-Álvarez

María Alejandra Aristeguieta, Ambassador-designate in Switzerland of Venezuela interim President Juan Guaido, addresses the 10th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On her father’s arrest:  “I normally work along with this Summit and I bring people and testimonies of victims

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

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

Human Rights

Do Human Rights Matter? with Alfred Moses

Ambassador Alfred Moses, Chair of United Nations Watch, addresses the 11th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On the battle for human rights in the world: “It has always been a battle between freedom and oppression.” “We had total oppression

Political Prisoners

The Political Pandemic: Resurgent Global Authoritarianism with Irwin Cotler

Professor Irwin Cotler, Chair of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights and former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, addresses the 13th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On rising authoritarianism: “We are witnessing…a global political

The Right Against Arbitrary Arrest with Luis Enrique Ferrer Garcia

Luis Enrique Ferrer Garcia, a Cuban dissident who received a 28-year prison sentence in the Black Spring crackdown of 2003 and was later exiled along with his family, addresses the 3rd Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks    

Tibet

Presentation of Geneva Summit 2019 Courage Award with Dhondup Wangchen

“I realized the true meaning of freedom and how freedom is more important than one’s life.” On abuse of Tibetans: “Without the support I received from the international community, I would be long dead.” “The moment the Tibetan person is labelled — that is just a dead body.” “When I

The Struggle for Reform with Michel Tran Duc

Michel Tran Duc, Viet Tan activist, pro-democracy organizer, and the son of an exiled Vietnamese intellectual, addresses the 4th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks. Full remarks Catherine Fiankan-Bokonga: I now give the floor to Mr. Michel Tran Duc from Vietnam, who arrived

Democracy

Rebelling Against Assad with Ibrahim Al-Idelbi

Ibrahim Al-Idelbi, Syrian human rights activist active in the rebel North-West of the country, addresses the 7th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by translated remarks in English. Quotes: To Be Confirmed Full Remarks: English First of all, I want to thank you for allowing me

Political Prisoners

China After Liu Xiabo with Yang Jianli

Chinese dissident and former political prisoner Yang Jianli addresses the 10th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On China’s harassment of human rights activists: “In mid- January 2018, a Beijing–based human rights lawyer, Yu Wensheng, while walking his son to

Political Prisoners

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 remarks. Full Remarks I am here today, speaking for my father, Yang Maodong, who is more known for his pen name, Guo

Authoritarism in Cuba with Rosa Maria Paya

Rosa Maria Paya, Cuban pro-democracy activist and member of the Coordination Team of the Christian Liberation Movement (MCL), addresses the 5th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see below for full prepared remarks.   Full remarks   Rosa Maria Paya: I want to thank the first two speakers, because I realize

Democracy

Fighting for Democracy and Human Rights in Latin America with Javier El-Hage

Javier El-Hage, Chief Legal and Policy Officer of Human Rights Foundation, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: Ladies and gentlemen, It is a privilege to stand before so many survivors and human rights heroes today. I am not one

United Nations

Welcome with Hillel Neuer

Hillel Neuer, international lawyer, diplomat, activist and Executive Director of UN Watch, addresses the 8th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On the dream of the founders of the UN Commission on Human Rights: “Seventy years ago, Eleanor Roosevelt

Human Rights

The Islamic Republic’s Crackdown on Dissent with Mahan Mehrabi

Mahan Mehrabi, sister of Iranian political prisoner Mahmoud Mehrabi, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks (Translated from Persian): Greetings to all, greetings to the Prince of Iran. Greetings to my people. I would like to thank the Prince of

Press Freedom

Exiled from Vietnam: The Fight for Freedom of Speech with Minh-Hoang Pham

Vietnamese scholar and former political prisoner imprisoned for his dissident blogging, Minh-Hoang Pham, addresses the 14th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On repression in Vietnam: “Many people imagine Vietnam as a tourist paradise, a place above is the sun

Tibet

Flying the Tibetan Flag with Tenzin Tsundue

More than 16-time imprisoned Tibetan activist and poet Tenzin Tsundue addresses the 14th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On having his flag confiscated at the United Nations: “This is the national flag of Tibet and yesterday at the United Nations

War Crimes

Sudan’s Ongoing Nightmare: Preventing Further Atrocities with Niemat Ahmadi

Niemat Ahmadi, survivor of the Darfur Genocide, Sudanese women’s rights defender, and founder and president of Darfur Women Action Group, addressed the 17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on February 18th, 2025. Full Remarks: Good Afternoon, everyone, I am standing before you today, feeling incredibly dismayed that,

Press Freedom

Uncovering Corruption with Hopewell Chin’ono

Oft-imprisoned Zimbabwean investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono addressess the 14th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On attacks on free speech in Zimbabwe: “Being here is a remarkable feat considering that I’m coming from Zimbabwe. You never know whether you’ll be

Welcome with Hillel Neuer

Hillel Neuer, international lawyer, diplomat, writer, activist and Executive Director of UN Watch, addresses the 12th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy — see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On the United Nations Human Rights Council: “We don’t say here at the Summit that the Human

Arbitrary Executions

Duterte’s Drug War with Chito Gascon

Chito Gascon, Chair of the Human Rights Commission of the Philippines, addresses the 9th Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks.  On the fragility of human rights and democracy: “The Philippine case is a case of how quickly institutions such as rule of law, human rights,