March 13, 2012
As the United Nations Human Rights Council holds its main annual session, the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy will — for the fourth consecutive year — assemble hundreds of courageous dissidents and human rights victims, activists, diplomats and student leaders, in an adjacent parallel forum, to shine a spotlight and call for action on urgent human rights situations that require global attention and call for action.
The Geneva Summit, created by a coalition of 20 NGOs from around the world in March 2008, will build on the success and momentum of the previous gatherings, which have been widely acclaimed in the international human rights community.
The conference program includes planned sessions on:
- Women’s Rights
- Internet Freedom
- Democracy
Joining the panel “The Struggle for Reform,” Viet Tan’s Michel Tran Duc will speak on Vietnam’s struggle for social justice.
Born in Vietnam, Michel Tran Duc fled the communist regime in 1983 at the age of 11 and settled down with his family in France. He has been a human rights activist for more than 20 years and is a frequent speaker on Vietnam-related issues. He is a graduate of Evry Universtity in 1998 and work as Project Manager for a Computer Engineering Company.
Part of the coalition of organizers, Viet Tan has been involved with this gathering since 2010. You can view and read previous panel sessions from Viet Tan speakers here:
2010
- Next Generation: Youth, Rights Defenders and the Blogosphere
- Duy Hoang, Spokesman of Viet Tan (YouTube, text)
2011
- Protecting Press Freedom and Internet Freedom: the Debate
- Nguyen Thi Thanh Van, journalist (YouTube)