PRESS RELEASE

FROM MARCH 6, 10 DAYS OF MOBILIZATION, DEBATES AND FILMS AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS OFF THE UN COUNCIL FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

A FREE PLATFORM

“A film, a subject, a debate” to condemn the violations of human rights in particular in China, in Russia, in Darfur and, in Burma; to react against the rise of populisms in Europe and to throw into the limelight the role of women in the fight against impunity. Films premieres include: Calle Santa Fe, co-presented by the International Film Festival of Fribourg and in the presence of Carmen Castillo, To Die in Jerusalem, The Dictator Hunter, Le système Poutine, 30 años de vida venciendo a la muerte.

AN INTERNATIONAL JURY

Ousmane Sow, Senegalese sculptor (president of the Jury), Nancy Huston, Franco-Canadian writer, Adam Michnik, Editor-in-chief of the Gazeta Wyborcza and emblematic figure of Solidamosc, Freddy Buache, Founder of the Cinémathèque Suisse and Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, Actress and Activist will award the Grand Prix FIFDH offered by the State of Geneva for the competition “Films and Documentaries of Creation”.

COMMITTED GUESTS

Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Betty Bigombe, former Ugandan Minister, Helen Mack, Alternative Nobel Peace Prize (Guatemala), Mandira Sharma, Lawyer and human rights defender (Nepal), Yasmin Sooka, former Commissionner, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, (South Africa), Hélène Flautre, European MP, Oksana Chelysheva, Journalist and human rights activist (Russia), Luis Moreno Ocampo, ICC Prosecutor, Philippe Val and Wolinski, Charlie Hebdo, Rony Brauman, Jean Ziegler, Stéphane Hessel, Pascal Boniface, Pierre Hazan, Dick Marty, Jan Pronk, Georges Nivat, Andrei Illarionov, former Economic Adviser to Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Oreshine, Russian Political scientist. Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burma, Aye Chan Naing, Director of the Democratic Voice (Radio/TV based in Oslo and broadcasting in Burma).

SPECIAL EVENTS

A cultural and political Festival:

• 12 March: Conference by Luis Moreno Ocampo, ICC Prosecutor

• 13 March: Encounter between the clown Dimitri and Oksana Chelysheva. A “Patron” project “Defend Human Rights Defenders” patronized by the FDFA, The World Organization against Torture, FIFDH.

• From 10 to 14 March: Performance of Face2Face by Marco&JR in several locations in Geneva, including the Grütli building. After eight Israeli and Palestinian towns, Paris and Berlin, they will expose in Geneva, city of culture and peace, portraits of Israelis and Palestinians.

• From 9 to 16 March, Rendezvous between the public and writers: Nancy Huston, Xinran Xue, the film directors Carmen Castillo, Christophe Ayad, a dictator hunter, Reed Brody and the former President of Mauritania Ely Ould Mohamed Vall.

• 14 March, Burma, solidarity evening with the participation of Sein Win, the Prime Minister of NCGUB in exile, Barbara Hendricks and Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu.

TRIBUTE TO AUNG SAN SUU KYI

This year, the Festival is dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize 1991 and emblematic opponent of the Burmese junta.

The Festival will take place at the Maison des Arts du Grütli, CP 5759 - 1211 Genève 11

Tél. +41 22 800 15 54 - Fax +41 22 329 37 47 ­

Supported by the City of Geneva, the Canton of Geneva and the Loterie Romande