GENEVA: The annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy opened on Tuesday, bringing together opposition politicians, activists, and former political prisoners from various countries. Speakers at the opening session presented reports on alleged human rights violations in Afghanistan, Iran, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong, North Korea, Belarus, China, and other countries. In a statement posted on the summit’s X account, participants called on the international community to speak out against political repression, arbitrary detention, and restrictions on freedom of expression. Those attending said their participation in the global forum represents people in their home countries who face threats, imprisonment, and exile for demanding freedom. They urged the United Nations and international institutions to take concrete steps to protect human rights. The summit is set to continue on Wednesday, with a number of human rights activists expected to share their experiences and demands. The Geneva summit is held annually with the aim of amplifying voices calling for freedom from different regions of the world and bringing them to the attention of the international community.
