Conf 2026 en

Annual Conference: Europe as a guarantor of human rights and peace

Date: 11 and 12 April 2026

Venue: Gustav Stresemann Institute, Langer Grabenweg 68, 53175 Bonn

Start: 12 noon (arrival from 11 am)

We look forward to seeing you there!

Once a year, we come together with members, partners, human rights activists, friends and interested parties from all over the world to discuss current human rights issues.

We are in contact with people around the world who are involved in humanitarian aid and practical human rights work. Together, we are committed to upholding human dignity and the inviolability of universal human rights worldwide.

This year, we would like to shine a spotlight on political prisoners, those persecuted for their religious beliefs, and the courageous individuals who are being persecuted and imprisoned for their activism against totalitarian regimes. Our general meeting will also take place on Sunday, to which we invite all members of the ISHR.

Conference Programme 2026

Saturday, 11 April 2026

11.00 am Arrival, registration

12.00 noon Welcome address by Edgar Lamm (Chairman of the ISHR)

12.15 pm Presentations on the conference theme

Thomas Rachel, Member of the German Bundestag and Federal Government Commissioner for Freedom of Religion or Belief
Anastasija Aleksejewa, ISHR Ukraine
Dmytro Lubinez, Ukrainian High Commissioner for Human Rights (video)
José Daniel Ferrer, former political prisoner from Cuba

3.00 pm Coffee break, pastries

3.30 pm Country reports (led by Carmen Jondral-Schuler, solicitor, and Valerio Krüger)

Russia: Kevin Lick, former political prisoner in Russia
Belarus: Ihar Losik, former political prisoner in Belarus
Iran: Haleh Hosseini Ramandi, Chair of the Board of Iranian Liberal Women e.V.
Iraq: Subaz Ali
China: Dr Enver Tohti, surgeon and human rights activist campaigning against organ harvesting in China

6.00 pm Dinner

7.30 pm: Presentation by the Stephanus Foundation for Persecuted Christians

Sunday, 12 April

8.00 am Breakfast

9.00 am General Meeting chaired by Edgar Lamm (separate agenda)

11.45 am Brief report by Valerio Krüger, spokesperson for the Executive Board

12.00 pm Brief report from the Working Committee on Religious Freedom by Heinz Ernst

12.15 pm Further welcoming remarks / video messages

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

12.30 pm Contemporary History

Alexander Bauersfeld
50th anniversary of the death of Reverend Oskar Brüsewitz, Zeitz (formerly East Germany)

1.00 pm Closing remarks by Prof. Dr Thomas Schirrmacher (President of the International Council of the ISHR and former General Secretary of the World Evangelical Alliance)

1.15 pm Lunch

2.00 pm End of the annual conference