Former Canadian minister Irwin Cotler will receive a Defender of Freedom Award for his advocacy for political prisoners worldwide, the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy announced. Cotler, a Jewish human rights advocate, expressed gratitude for the award and highlighted the importance of advocating for the release of political prisoners. The Geneva Summit is a coalition of human rights organizations that provides a platform for frontline defenders of human rights. Cotler, a former law professor and Minister of Justice in Canada, has represented clients such as Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza and Saudi activist Raif Badawi. He has also been a vocal critic of the Islamic Republic of Iran.