Leading Dissidents to Headline Human Rights Issues at Summit

Geneva Summit for Human Rights & Democracy

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

Geneva, Jan. 26 - 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.

The widely acclaimed event takes place in Geneva as diplomats of the UN Human Rights Council meet nearby from Feb. 27 to Mar. 26.

For journalists, the parallel summit provides a one-stop opportunity to hear from and interview key frontline human rights advocates—many of whom have personally suffered imprisonment and torture.

The speakers’ compelling and vivid testimonies will, as in past years, stand in sharp contrast to the Council’s diplomatic haggling over draft resolutions and reports on human rights situations around the world.

With Burma, Iran and China making human rights headlines, the parallel conference will hear directly from Burma’s “Little Daughter” author Zoya Phan; Iranian torture victim Ebrahim Mehtari; and former political prisoner and Tiananmen Square hero Ren Wanding of China.

French TV journalist Anne-Isabelle Tollet is set to reveal the latest developments in the campaign to win freedom for Asia Bibi, a mother-of-five who remains on death row in Pakistan for blasphemy.
Other speakers will address human rights situations in Cuba, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Vietnam, Egypt and Zimbabwe. and will speak to the themes of:

• Discrimination against women


• Freedom of speech


• Internet freedom


• Discrimination against religious minorities,


• Persecution of dissidents and human rights defenders


• Honor killings

As in other years, the parallel summit will produce alternative draft resolutions for the Council to consider.

Past parallel summits have enjoyed widespread coverage by major wire services and newspapers, as well as television and radio news outlets. Videos of past speaker testimonies are available at www.genevasummit.org.

Admission to this year’s March 13 summit is free to the public and media, but registration is mandatory.

For accreditation, program and schedule information, visit www.genevasummit.org.

Organised by:

United Nations Watch
Freedom and Roam Uganda
Human Rights Activists in Iran
Human Rights Foundation
Human Rights Without Frontiers
Ingénieurs du monde
Initiatives for China
Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children
International Federation of Liberal Youth
Ligue International Contre le Racisme et l’Antisémitisme
Stop Child Executions
Viet Tan
World Uighur Congress
Zimbabwe Advocacy Office

ENDS

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