The Imagine Forum: Protecting Rights – Defending Peace

In a time of rising authoritarianism, democratic backsliding, and growing pushback against human rights, gender equality, and LGBTQI+ rights, this conference brings together leading thinkers, activists and policy makers to discuss how protecting rights is essential to building lasting peace.

This year were fortunate to welcome inspiring speakers advocating for peace and the protection of rights in diverse contexts, including:
🎙️ Nazanin Boniadi – Award-winning actress and renowned human rights advocate focusing on women’s rights and freedom of expression in Iran and beyond

🎙️Varsen Aghabekian, Minister for Foreign Affairs and expatriates of the State of Palestine
🎙️ Vladimir Kara-Murza – Russian opposition politician, author, historian and former political prisoner
🎙️ Jessica Stern – Former U.S. Special Envoy for LGBTQI+ Rights and Senior Fellow at the Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights at the Harvard Kennedy School

🎙️ Katja Creutz - Expert at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs focusing on global governance, international law and human rights

We thank everyone who participated and attended and hope to see you again for the 10th anniversary of The Imagine Forum 2026.

The Imagine Forum: Protecting Rights - Defending Peace

Veröld House of Vigdís, University of Iceland

Welcoming words Pia Hansson, Director of Höfði Reykjavík Peace Centre, University of Iceland

Woman, Life, Freedom: Honoring Iceland’s Legacy, Standing with Iran’s Future

Nazanin Boniadi, Actress and Human Rights Activist.

Followed by a conversation with Nazanin Boniadi moderated by Anna Lúðvíksdóttir, Director, Amnesty International Iceland.

Spotlight session with Varsen Aghabekian, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine moderated by Davíð Logi Sigurðsson, Director of the Directorate for International Affairs and Policy, Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Russia Under Putin — and Beyond

Vladimir Kara-Murza, Russian opposition politician, author, historian and former political prisoner

Panel discussion featuring Rósa Magnúsdóttir, Professor of History at the University of Iceland, Skúli Bragi Geirdal, Project Manager at the Icelandic Media Commission, Þórhildur Sunna Ævarsdóttir, Human Rights Lawyer and Executive Director of Courage International and Vladimir Kara-Murza

Moderated by Elín Margrét Böðvarsdóttir, Broadcast Journalist at Sýn

Building a More Equal World: LGBTQI+ Equality and Iceland’s Global Impact

Jessica Stern, Senior Fellow at the Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights at Harvard Kennedy School and Former U.S. Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons and Senior Fellow

Followed by a moderated Youth Dialogue with Jessica Stern featuring Snæ Humadóttir, Youth Council Representative for Samtökin 78, Stefanía Sigurdís Jóhönnudóttir, Iceland‘s Youth Delegate for Human Rights at the United Nations, Sylvía Martinsdóttir, President of National Youth Council of Iceland.

Protecting Rights Together: The Role of the UN in Today’s Human Rights Struggles

Katja Creutz, Programme Director of the Global Security and Governance research programme at FIIA

Panel discussion: Ambassador Einar Gunnarsson, Permanent Mission of Iceland in Geneva, Arndís Anna Kristínardóttir Gunnarsdóttir, Attorney at Law and President of Siðmennt, the Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association, Jessica Stern, Senior Fellow at the Carr- Ryan Center for Human Rights at Harvard Kennedy School and Katja Creutz

Moderated by Kristján Guy Burgess, International Relations Specialist

Cities as Peacebuilders: Human Rights at the Local Level

Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir, Mayor of Reykjavík

Peaceful Towns Art Competition

Finalists presented by the Mayor of Reykjavík

Safeguarding Human Rights and Global Peace in Times of Challenge

Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs

Closing Reflections

Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir, Rector of the University of Iceland

Full stream available here: