54th Annual Conference of ISHR: Europe as a Guarantor of Human Rights and Peace

Once a year, we bring together members, partners, human rights defenders, friends, and interested participants from around the world to exchange on current human rights issues.

We are in contact worldwide with people engaged in humanitarian aid and hands-on human rights work. Together, we advocate for the protection of human dignity and the inviolability of universal human rights across the globe.

This year, we aim to place a special focus on political prisoners, victims of religious persecution, and the courageous individuals who are persecuted and imprisoned for their activism against totalitarian structures. On Sunday, our General Assembly will also take place, to which we warmly invite all IGFM members.

11–12 April 2026

Start: 12:00 PM (arrival from 11:00 AM)

Location
Gustav Stresemann Institute, Langer Grabenweg 68, 53175 Bonn

We look forward to your participation!

Conference Programme 2026

Saturday, 11 April

11:00 Arrival, registration

12:00 Welcome address by Edgar Lamm (Chairman of IGFM)

12:15 Keynote speeches on the conference theme

  • Thomas Rachel, Member of the German Bundestag – Federal Government Commissioner for Freedom of Religion or Belief
  • Anastasija Aleksejewa – IGFM Ukraine
  • Dmytro Lubinets – Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (video)
  • José Daniel Ferrer – former political prisoner from Cuba (tbc)
  • Oleksandra Matviichuk – human rights defender, Nobel Peace Prize laureate (video)

15:00 Coffee break, refreshments

15:30 Country reports (moderated by RA Carmen Jondral-Schuler and Valerio Krüger)

  • Russia: Kevin Lick – former political prisoner in Russia
  • Belarus: Mikola Dziadok – former political prisoner in Belarus
  • Iran: Haleh Hosseini Ramandi – Chairwoman, Iranian Liberal Women e.V.
  • Iraq: Subaz Ali – Kurdistan/Iraq (video)
  • China: Dr. Enver Tohti – surgeon and human rights activist against organ harvesting in China

18:00 Dinner

19:00 Award ceremony of the Stephanus Foundation for Persecuted Christians

Sunday, 12 April

8:00 Breakfast

9:00 General Assembly chaired by Edgar Lamm (separate agenda)

11:45 Brief report by Valerio Krüger (Executive Board Spokesperson)

12:00 Brief report by the Working Committee on Freedom of Religion – Heinz Ernst

12:15 Additional greetings / video messages

  • Dr. Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, MEP – Chair of the Committee on Security and Defence (video)

12:30 Contemporary history

  • Alexander Bauersfeld
    50th anniversary of the death of Pastor Oskar Brüsewitz, Zeitz (former GDR)

13:00 Closing remarks by Prof. Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher (President of the International Council of IGFM and former Secretary General of the World Evangelical Alliance)

13:15 Lunch

14:00 End of the Annual Conference