As a co-sponsor of the conference, today the IFLRY Delegation arrived in Geneva to help in the preparations for the 6th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. The delegation consisting of James Bowles (LY) Hannah Hunter (LY), Justin Kaiser (Young Liberals of Canada), Daphnie Ploegstra (JD) and Laura Neijenhuis (JD) met with UN Watch and assisted them in the final preparations.
In the afternoon the first session took place at the United Nations office. Here, after a few opening remarks by Hillel Neuer (Executive Director of UN Watch) the hosting Ambassadors and politicians welcomed the speakers of the Summit tomorrow. Ambassador Keith M. Harper (Representative of the USA to the UN Human Rights Council), Ambassador Rosemary McCarney (Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations in Geneva), Ambassador Jan Kára (Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the United Nations in Geneva), Ilhan Kyuchyuk (Member of European Parliament from Bulgaria), Ambassador Alfred H. Moses (Chair of UN Watch and former US Ambassador to Romania) and Ambassador Maria Leissner (Secretary General, Community of Democracies).
Following their greetings a selection of the Summit speakers provided us with an introduction to their presentations. Ms Ledezma, daughter of political prisoner Antonio Ledezma (Mayor of Caracas) told the story of how her father was suddenly arrested without a warrant. After 7 hours of silence the family was told he was arrested for conspiracy. Two charges stand: conspiracy and criminal association, which can end up in 27 years in prison. Until today, according to Ms Ledezma, there is however no proof for these allegations. He is an innocent man and Ms Ledezma is fighting for his freedom as well as of all those other political prisoners in Venezuela.
Vian Dakhil (Yazidi Member of Iraqi Parliament) described the situation of Yazidi women in Iraq. 5800 Yazidi girls and women are missing, being held by DAESH (IS) as (sex) slaves. They even created markets for buying and selling these girls (for just 10 or 20$). 5800 girls are kidnapped, of which 2800 have escaped but are still in a very bad (psychological) situation. It is unbelievable that these atrocious acts are happening in this day and age.
Anastasia Lin (Human rights advocate on China, 2015 Miss World Canada and actress) gave an insight in how she grew up in China and perceived the severe restrictions in information. The cultural and language barrier have caused the Chinese to not be able to communicate their suffering to the West, about the corruption, media censorship and political prisoners. After she went to Canada, her pictures and name was changed in China and her family was intimidated. When she went to China for the Miss World Final, she found out she was labelled ‘persona non grata’. She concluded with the remark that the rest of the world should call on China to stop abusing human rights.
Svitlana Zalishchuk(Former activist against censorship, and Ukrainian Member of Parliament since the Maidan Revolution) told about her experiences during and after ‘the Revolution of Dignity’. Two days ago Ukraine commemorated the bloodshed of Maidan. Ms Zalishchuk was prosecuted by the former government (using phone tabs, and setting up criminal cases against her and more.) Now she is in the parliament herself and can influence the legislation that she fought for before.
Daniel Mekonnen (Eritrean human rights lawyer and scholar) described the situation in Eritrea. As the country only exists for 25 years since its independence, and in this period Eritrea has ‘gone upside down’. The government that was very popular at first, turned out to be the worst government in their history. The acts of war (and crimes against humanity) did not fall under the jurisdiction of the international court of justice. Still, they will celebrate 25 years of Eritrea this year.
After these short introductions to the presentations following on the Geneva Summit on 23 February, two speakers reflected upon them. Christopher Walker (Vice President Studies and Analysis, National Endowment for Democracy) and our own delegation member Justin Kaiser (National President, Young Liberals of Canada) responded on these stories from their own perspectives.
By the end of the session, the delegation headed to the Conference Centre where the summit would take place the following day in order to have a final walkthrough with UN Watch. James, Hannah, Justin, Daphnie and Laura will support the organisation of the Summit with IT, timer and stage setting. Tomorrow they will come back to you with an update!
Watch the conference tomorrow: Livestream Geneva Summit