Three Days to Day One of Conference

GENEVA SUMMIT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, TOLERANCE AND DEMOCRACY

This Sunday in Geneva, 19 April 2009

Global Webcast to Draw Worldwide Participation in Human Rights Summit on Eve of U.N. Racism Conference

Geneva, Switzerland -- Human rights victims, activists and reporters worldwide will be able via the internet to watch and participate in a global summit of human rights activists that will take place in Geneva this Sunday, on April 19, 2009, one day before the opening of the UN Durban Review Conference on racism and discrimination, to urge the international community to address the world's most severe violations.



The day after the Geneva Summit, Iran's President Ahmadinejad will appear at the UN conference, which has been dubbed "Durban II." Last week, his envoy in Geneva -- apparently concerned about potential scrutiny of Iran's treatment of women, ethnic and religious minorities, and gays -- protested in a UN session that the Geneva Summit will be taking place in the best venue in the city -- the international convention center directly facing the UN.





Former political prisoners Bo Kyi of Burma, Saad Eddin Ibrahim of Egypt, Ahmed Batebi of Iran, Jose Castillo of Cuba, along with activist Marlon Zakeyo of Zimbabwe and advocate Floyd Abrams of the U.S., will be among the world-renowned figures to address the Geneva Summit.





“We are thrilled that victims, activists and journalists around the world will be able to watch and participate in Sunday’s historic human rights gathering,” said Eleiza Braun, spokesperson for the Geneva Summit for Human Rights, Tolerance and Democracy. “The summit will hear from some of the leading figures in the struggle against genocide, discrimination and state repression of civil, political and religious freedom. They will be telling their stories and giving voice to the millions who are still in countries where they cannot speak out from fear of torture and persecution.”





SOS Racisme, Freedom House, Ibuka, UN Watch and 30 other human rights and anti-racism NGOs from around the world are joining hands to bring leading human rights figures from Burma, Iran, Egypt, Cuba, Darfur, Venezuela, and many other countries known for severe violations, including discrimination on the basis of religion, belief, gender and sexual orientation. Hundreds of human rights NGO activists are expected to attend in person in Geneva.



Viewers worldwide can watch the live webcast on Sunday at http://www.genevasummit.org/program/en – and pose questions to the panel via e-mail throughout the day. Prior registration is no longer required.





What: The Geneva Summit for Human Rights, Tolerance, and Democracy


Who: Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Ahmed Batebi, Jose Gabriel Ramon Castillo, Bo Kyi, Marlon Zakeyo, Floyd Abrams and many more


Where: International Conference Center Geneva (CICG), 17 rue de Varembé, Geneva


When: April 19, 2009, from 8:30 to 18:30