Captive Nations Week Summit

Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation is an educational, research, and human rights nonprofit devoted to commemorating the more than 100 million victims of communism around the world and to pursuing the freedom of those still living under totalitarian regimes.

Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation

Please join us for a Captive Nations Week Summit on Monday, July 15.  The Captive Nations Week Summit will provide an opportunity for policymakers and human rights advocates to hear first-hand from victims of the captive nations of Hong Kong, China, Cuba, Laos, Nicaragua, North Korea, Vietnam, and Venezuela. Confirmed participants include Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Organization of American States Sec. Gen. Luis Almagro, Venezuelan Amb. Carlos Vecchio, and 2019 Victims of Communism Human Rights Award laureate Mother Mushroom. The Summit will also feature the "Victims of Venezuela's Dictatorship" photo exhibition from award-winning photographers covering the humanitarian crisis and the crimes against humanity in Venezuela. Schedule:
10:30 a.m. Registration 11:00 a.m.  Welcome by Marion Smith, Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, Executive Director
                   Keynote by Amb. Paula Dobriansky, Harvard University’s JFK Belfer Center for Science and                    International Affairs, Senior Fellow in the “Future of Diplomacy Project”
                   Keynote by Amb. Carlos Vecchio, Ambassador of Venezuela to the United States
11:15 a.m.  Captive Nations of Latin America Panel 
    Panelists:
<UL>
<LI>John Suarez, Center for a FREE Cuba, Executive Director</LI>
<LI>Dr. Carlos Ponce, Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, Senior Fellow &amp; Director of Latin American Programs</LI>
<LI>Maria C. Werlau, Cuba Archive, Executive Director</LI>
<LI>Ana Quintana, The Heritage Foundation, Senior Policy Analyst, Latin America and the Western Hemisphere (moderator)</LI>
</UL>
12:00 p.m. Lunch 
                   Keynote by Benedict Rogers, Hong Kong Watch, Chairman of Trustees
12:30 p.m. Captive Nations of China and North Korea 
     Panelists:
<UL>
<LI>Rushan Abbas, Campaign for Uyghurs, Founder &amp; Director</LI>
<LI>Bob Fu, ChinaAid, President</LI>
<LI>Greg Scarlatoiu, Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, Executive Director</LI>
<LI>Dr. Suzanne Scholte, Defense Forum Foundation, President</LI>
<LI>Olivia Enos, The Heritage Foundation, Senior Policy Analyst, Asian Studies Center, Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy (moderator)</LI>
</UL>
1:15 p.m. VOC Human Rights Award Ceremony for Mother Mushroom                 Video Message by VOC Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC)                 Keynote by Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA)                 Keynote by Nguyễn Ngọc Như Quỳnh a.k.a. “Mother Mushroom,” Vietnamese blogger and dissident 1:30 p.m. Captive Nations of South East Asia
     Panelists:
<UL>
<LI>James Her, Congress of World Hmong People</LI>
<LI>Huy Nguyen, Next Generations of the Republic of Vietnam Organization</LI>
<LI>Nguyễn Ngọc Như Quỳnh a.k.a. “Mother Mushroom,” Vietnamese blogger and dissident</LI>
<LI>Dr. Hung Tran, Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, Member</LI>
<LI>Dr. Murray Bessette, Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, Director of Academic Programs (moderator)</LI>
</UL>
2:30 p.m.  Keynote by Luis Almagro, Organization of American States, Secretary General 3:00 p.m. Event end

Russell Senate Office Building, Room 325

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