Canadian Human Rights Icon Irwin Cotler Honored With Defender of Freedom Award at 2025 Geneva Summit
The Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, a cross-regional coalition of more than 30 human rights organizations, presented its Defender of Freedom Award to Professor Irwin Cotler, international human rights lawyer, legal scholar, former Canadian justice minister, and nominee for next year’s Nobel Peace Prize, for his renowned advocacy for political prisoners worldwide.
Earning an international reputation as “Counsel for the Oppressed,” Prof. Cotler has been targeted by regimes from the Soviet Union to the Islamic Republic of Iran for his defense of prisoners of conscience around the world.
His clients have included dissidents who were speakers of the Geneva Summit and Courage Award recipients, including Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was released from prison in August, and Saudi activist Raif Badawi, who remains barred from leaving Saudi Arabia.
Following a distinguished career as a McGill University law professor, recognized as an eminent scholar of constitutional law, international law, and human rights law, Prof. Cotler then served for many years as a prominent and energetic member of Canada’s parliament, and as the country’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General. Today, he heads the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights.
“A moral giant and champion for political prisoners, Prof. Irwin Cotler has dedicated his life to fighting injustice, defending the oppressed, and advancing human rights,” said Hillel Neuer, executive director of United Nations Watch, a co-organizer of the conference together with Human Rights Foundation, the Renew Democracy Initiative, and more than 25 other human rights groups.
In November, it was revealed that the Iranian regime was attempting to assassinate Prof. Cotler in Canada, and that he has been living for more than a year under intense police protection.
“There is no one more deserving of our Defender of Freedom Award than Irwin Cotler,”said Neuer. “He has tirelessly devoted his life to fighting injustice, and to defending activists worldwide who dare to defy oppressive regimes.”
Presenting the award, Vladimir Kara-Murza, Russian opposition leader and survivor of two poisoning attempts and harsh imprisonment, said, « I’ve had the privilege of knowing Irwin Cotler for more than a decade. During this time, we have worked together on many issues, from imposing Magnitsky sanctions on human rights abusers to enacting street designations in honor of Boris Nemtsov to advocating on behalf of political prisoners. And when I became a political prisoner myself, it meant the world to me that among the most ardent advocates for my liberation was Professor Irwin Cotler. »
« It is often said that we live in a cynical age, in an age of expediency and realpolitik, » said Kara-Murza. « But Irwin’s whole life shows us that there is still room for principle in international politics and that is a cause for both celebration and gratitude. » Click here for Vladimir Kara-Murza’s full award presentation speech.
Irwin Cotler: “Even in the face of tyranny, the voices of truth and justice will not be silenced”
“I’m deeply moved and humbled by this award which I take to be in recognition of the cases and causes I’ve been privileged to engage in, as well as the heroic political prisoners, human rights defenders – represented at this year’s Geneva Summit – and the victims of injustice who need us to be their voice, all of whom have underpinned and inspired my advocacy all these years,” said Irwin Cotler.
“The liberation of these brave journalists, dissidents, lawyers, and community leaders can—and does—change the course of history. We must never stop advocating for their release from authoritarian regimes across the globe.”
“Although there is still much work to be done to free these heroes, the Geneva Summit inspires me because it proves that even in the face of tyranny, the voices of truth and justice will not be silenced.”
Upon being awarded the prestigious prize, Irwin Cotler addressed the audience via video, saying: « At times such as these—qui s’excuse s’accuse—that whoever remains silent indicts himself and herself, and where silence is complicity with evil, where silence is coming down on the side of the tormentors and not on the side of the tormented…we must not only speak up and stand up, but act together in this abiding struggle for freedom. »
Watch Irwin Cotler’s full speech here.
About the Geneva Summit
Irwin Cotler spoke via video at this year’s Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy to an audience of champions of human rights from around the world, including dissidents, activists, victims, and relatives of political prisoners from Iran, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Tibet, Russia, Eritrea, and more who testified on abuses in their countries.
“The Geneva Summit of Human Rights serves as a global hub for dissidents, offering a unique opportunity to hear first-hand from frontline defenders of human rights, many of whom have endured brutal arrest, incarceration and torture,” said Neuer.
Videos of speaker testimonies are available at www.genevasummit.org.
