54th ISHR Annual Conference
Europe as a guarantor of human rights and peace
On 11 and 12 April 2026, the 54th Annual Conference of the ISHR took place in Bonn. Under the guiding theme “Europe as a guarantor of human rights and peace”, members, partners and international guests came together to discuss current developments, in particular the situation of political prisoners, people persecuted for their religion and those targeted because of their engagement against authoritarian systems.
The country reports made clear how differently, yet systematically, human rights are violated, particularly in Russia, Belarus, Iran, Iraq, China and Ukraine. In all these countries, people are affected by acts of war, grave human rights violations, repression and political persecution.
During the General Assembly on 12 April 2026, board elections were held and honorary members were elected. Chairman Edgar Lamm, Board Spokesperson Valerio Krüger, and board members Carmen Jondral Schuler, Gunter Goebel, Michael Leh and Dima Rahr were confirmed in their positions. Heinz Ernst did not stand again for the office of Treasurer, but a successor was elected. Andreas Weisang, a lawyer and auditor, has now been elected to the important position of Treasurer. ISHR is very grateful to Heinz Ernst for his work on the Executive Board over the past years and wishes Andreas Weisang all the best in his important role as Treasurer.
ISHR is also pleased to welcome Theresa Hirte as a newly elected member of the Board. The doctoral researcher was elected to the Board as an assessor. ISHR wishes Theresa Hirte all the best in her new role.
Presentations from the ISHR Annual Conference
Dmytro Lubinets
Ukrainian High Commissioner for Human Rights
Oleksandra Matviichuk
Human rights activist, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Chair of the Center for Civil Liberties
Thomas Rachel
Member of the German Bundestag
Federal Government Commissioer for Freedom of Religion and Belief
Anastasiia Alieksieieva
IAC ISHR Ukraine
José Daniel Ferrer
Former political prisoner from Cuba
Founder of the Cuban Patrión Movement (UNPACU)
Country reports
Kevin Lick
Former political prisoner from Russia
Mikola Dziadok
Former political prisoner from Belarus
Haleh Hosseini Ramandi
Chairwoman of the Board, Iranian Liberal Women Association
Dr. Enver Tohti
surgeon and human rights activist against organ harvesting in China
Subaz Ali
An IS survivor from Mosul, Kurdistan/Iraq, cared for and supported by the IGFM (International Society for Human Rights).
Saturday, 11 April
12:15 p.m. Presentations on the conference theme
- Thomas Rachel, Member of the German Bundestag, Federal Government Commissioner for Freedom of Religion or Belief
- Anastasija Aleksejewa, ISHR Ukraine
- Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Commissioner for Human Rights (video)
- José Daniel Ferrer, former political prisoner from Cuba (presumably)
- Oleksandra Matviichuk, human rights defender, Nobel Peace Prize laureate (video)
3:00 p.m. Coffee break, pastries
3:30 p.m. Country reports
Chaired by lawyer 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 of 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
7:00 p.m. Award ceremony of the Stephanus Foundation for persecuted Christians
Sunday, 12 April
9:00 a.m. General Assembly chaired by Edgar Lamm
12:30 p.m. Contemporary history
- Alexander Bauersfeld
50th anniversary of the death of Pastor Oskar Brüsewitz, Zeitz, former GDR.
Greetings for the ISHR Annual Conference
Dr. Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann MEP
Chair of the Committee on Security and Defence
Roderich Kiesewetter
Member of the German Bundestag, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee
