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

There is limited seating Click here to register

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

The Imagine Forum: Protecting Rights - Defending Peace

Veröld House of Vigdís, University of Iceland

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 moderated by Anna Lúðvíksdóttir, Director Amnesty International, Iceland

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

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

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

13:30 – 13:45 Coffee Break

13:45 – 14:00 Building a More Equal World: LGBTQI+ Equality and Iceland’s Global Impact

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: 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

15:20 – 15:30 Coffee Break

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

16:00 – 16:15 Presenting the Finalists of the Peaceful Towns Art Competition

Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir, Mayor of Reykjavík

16:15 – 16:30 Closing Addresses

Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs

Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir, Rector of the University of Iceland

16:30 Reception