Derechos Humanos / Human Rights

 Geneva, June 9 (DP.net).– The 13th Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy was a virtual world event that took place last Monday and Tuesday, June 7-8, 2021, counting with quite relevant speakers, such as András Simonyi, Academic and former Hungarian Ambassador to the U.S.; Can  Dündar, Leading Turkish journalist arrested and forced into exile for his brave reporting; Daria Navalnaya, Daughter of poisoned and jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny; Evan Mawarire, Zimbabwean protest leader, arrested six times and tortured for his civil rights work; Irwin Cotler, Former Canadian Minister of Justice and MP, advocate for political prisoners; Jihyun Park, North Korean escapee and survivor of a North Korean forced labor camp; and others equally important in the world quest for democracy and human rights.

Thousands of people from around the world tuned in online for this very first virtual event to hear the testimonies of courageous human rights dissidents, former political prisoners, and activists from China, Cuba, Belarus, Hong Kong, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Syria, Turkey, and Zimbabwe

The Summit presented its International Women's Rights Award to Gulalai Ismail, a leading Pakistani rights activist who fled the country after authorities falsely accused her of sedition for her advocacy. Daria Navalnaya, the 20-year-old daughter of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, received the 2021 Moral Courage Award on behalf of her father.

May 10 (DP.net).– Among many other violations of the human rights of Tibetans by the Chinese authorities, religious freedom and the succession of the Dalai Lama should be at the top of the human rights agenda the international community should promote in its dealings with China.

When 19-year-old monk Tenzin Ngi-ma –known to friends and family at Tamey– was released from prison, his health was so poor that he could not talk or move. Due to beatings he sustained in custody, he died shortly thereafter. Tamey had been arrested for distributing leaftlets and shouting slogans about Tibetan independence. Sadly, his death is part of a pattern of torture and mistreatment of political prisoners in Tibet. 

Another prominent case involves the successor of the Dalai Lama. Recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as a reincarnated lama in the 1980s, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche has been a community leader and a staunch advocate for the protection and preservation of Tibetan culture, religion, and way of life for decades.

In 2002, Delek was arrested on false charges of exploding bombs and distributing separatist leaflets. The only evidence against him was extracted from a relative during torture. However, the relative later recanted his false testimony, clearing Delek of any wrong-doing. But Delek’s trial was held in secret and even though he had no independent legal counsel and the evidence against him was non-existent, he received a death sentence. The sentence was later commuted to life in prison, and he remains there today.