�糵����

Across the world, authoritarian regimes are targeting frontline defenders of democracy, stifling their voices through coercion and control, and forcing growing numbers into exile. Yet exile need not be an endpoint. It can be a space for resilience, renewal, and reengagement in the global struggle for democracy.

You are invited a panel discussion and public dialogue on the urgent challenges facing defenders of democracy in exile, the role of host societies in safeguarding their voices and agency, and the opportunities for Canadian institutions and communities to stand in solidarity. The conversation will bring together frontline activists, scholars, civil society practitioners, and policy leaders, and will be followed by an open Q&A with the audience.

Speakers

Welcome | Nadia Abu-Zahra | Full Professor, University of Ottawa
Nadia Abu-Zahra is Full Professor at the School of International Development and Global Studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ottawa. She also co-directs the Voices-in-Exile project with Associate Professor John Packer, to amplify the work of human rights defenders. 

Soe Wuttye Htoo | Former Diplomat and Pro-Democracy Activist, Myanmar
Leading voice in the struggle for democracy and human rights, she previously served as Second Secretary at the Myanmar Embassy in Ottawa and holds degrees in education and public administration from Yangon universities. Following the military coup of February 2021, she resigned her post and became deeply involved in the Civil Disobedience Movement, supporting UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun’s efforts to expose the junta’s brutality. Now based in Canada, she continues to mobilize international awareness through social media advocacy and grassroots organizing. Her work highlights the ongoing civil war in Myanmar and the urgent need for global solidarity with pro-democracy forces.

Neven Melek | Lawyer, Human Rights Advocate, Egypt
Egyptian lawyer, activist, and writer known for her defense of civil liberties and peaceful protest, Neven is a member of the Lawyers Association in Egypt. She played a prominent role during the 2011 popular uprising, defending citizens’ rights in the face of escalating repression. In 2013, she was forced into exile under threat of imprisonment and hard labor. Since then, she has continued her advocacy internationally, contributing to outlets such as Al-Jazeera, BBC, and France24, and collaborating with organizations including UNESCO’s Safety of Journalists Section and the Rural Media Network Pakistan. Her work focuses on free expression, fair elections, and the protection of human rights defenders worldwide.

Victor Amisi Sulubika | Executive Director, Vision GRAM-International; Human Rights Defender, Democratic Republic of Congo
Internationally recognized advocate for peacebuilding, arms control, and the protection of children in conflict, Victor is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He founded Vision GRAM-International in 1996 and has served as its Executive Director in Canada since 2007. He played a key role in launching the Coalition to End the Use of Child Soldiers in the DRC and has led campaigns such as Replace the Gun with a Pen to promote education and justice for youth affected by war. His advocacy has taken him from grassroots initiatives in Central Africa to United Nations conferences on disarmament, nuclear weapons, and international justice. Based in Ottawa as a resettled refugee, Victor continues to speak across Canada and abroad, inspiring audiences with his commitment to human rights, dignity, and justice for all.

Moderator | Maiwand Rahyab | Founder and CEO of Resilient Societies
Resilient Societies is an emerging global initiative dedicated to protecting civic space and empowering democracy advocates and human rights defenders working under authoritarian regimes or in exile. Resilient Societies advances inclusive platforms such as the Resilience Network and the Ottawa Civic Space Summit, helping restore the voice, agency, and relevance of civil society actors confronting repression and transnational threats.

Before relocating to Canada, Maiwand held senior leadership positions with the National Democratic Institute and Counterpart International, and served as the inaugural Executive Director of the Afghanistan Institute for Civil Society. His perspectives on civil society, democratic resilience, and exile politics have appeared in the Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, The Diplomat, and other leading outlets. Drawing on both lived experience and global expertise, he brings a compelling voice to urgent debates on civic space, democratic backsliding, and the future of exile activism.