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

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

We look forward to welcoming you to the Imagine Forum 2025.

10:00 – 10:10 Welcoming words
Pia Hansson, Director of Höfði Reykjavík Peace Centre, University of Iceland

10:10 – 10:30 Keynote Address - Woman, Life, Freedom: Honoring Iceland’s Legacy, Standing with Iran’s Future
Nazanin Boniadi, Actress and Human Rights Activist

10:30 – 11:00 Conversation with Nazanin Boniadi

11:00 – 11:45 Spotlight session with Varsen Aghabekian Shaheen, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine

11:45 – 12:30 Lunch

12:30 – 12:45 Keynote Address - Russia Under Putin — and Beyond

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

12:45 – 13:30 Panel discussion

13:30 – 13:45 Coffee Break

13:45 – 14:00 Keynote address

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

14:00 – 14:20 Moderated Youth Dialogue with Jessica Stern

14:20 – 15:20 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

15:20 – 15:30 Coffee Break

15:30 – 16:00 Fireside Chat: Cities as Peacebuilders: Human Rights at the Local Level

16:00 – 16:10 Presenting the Finalists of the Peaceful Towns Art Competition

16:10 – 16:20 Closing Address

Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs

16:20 - 16:30 Closing Reflections

Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir, Rector of the University of Iceland

16:30 Reception