Afghan Taekwondo Athlete Marzieh Hamidi Receives International Women's Rights Award at Geneva Summit
The 18th Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy took place on Thursday, February 18, 2026, coinciding with the UN Human Rights Council session.
At the event, Marzieh Hamidi, a prominent Afghan taekwondo athlete, received the International Women's Rights Award. Hamidi, a well-known figure in Afghan women's sports, fled Afghanistan for France following the Taliban takeover in 2021 and continues her taekwondo training there.
Masih Alinejad, an Iranian journalist, author, and women's rights activist, was awarded the Geneva Summit Courage Award. Alinejad, founder of the "My Stealthy Freedoms" campaign against compulsory hijab, left Iran after the 2009 disputed elections and now lives in the United States. She chairs the World Liberty Congress.
In her acceptance speech, Alinejad dedicated the award to the Iranian people and victims of recent protests. She called on European leaders to support Iran's victims, displayed the Iranian flag and photos of protest victims, and chanted "This year is the year the house of Seyyed Ali will be overthrown," referring to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. She criticized UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for inviting Iran's Abbas Araghchi to speak at the Human Rights Council, describing Iran's human rights situation as a "slap in the face of the international community."
Alinejad tore photos of Khamenei, former President Hassan Rouhani, and Masoud Pezeshkian, labeling Khamenei the "godfather of ISIS and terrorists."
Pedro Orochorta Nusly, a Venezuelan university professor, political scientist, and opposition activist, also received recognition for his efforts supporting a democratic transition in Venezuela. He had sought refuge in the Argentine embassy in Caracas in March 2024 and was freed in May 2025 through an international operation.
The summit, held annually ahead of the main UN Human Rights Council session, gathers political opponents, activists, human rights victims, diplomats, journalists, and student leaders, supported by a coalition of human rights organizations.
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