Register on the Lantos Foundation Website
Heroes Among Us:
Insight Into the World of Political Prisoners & Hostages
April 10, 2024
5:00 - 6:00 pm
Online at wacnh.org
Join us for a riveting evening as we host a special event featuring Paul Rusesabagina, the renowned humanitarian whose extraordinary story inspired the Oscar-winning film, "Hotel Rwanda." Alongside him will be Beth Cooper, former Senior Advisor to the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs.
At this exclusive event, presented by the Lantos Foundation, the World Affairs Council of NH, the Foley Foundation, and the Amer Fakhoury Foundation, attendees will have the unique opportunity to hear firsthand accounts of Mr. Rusesabagina's harrowing experiences as a political prisoner in Rwanda. Moreover, they will gain insights into the impactful collaboration between civil society and government that played a pivotal role in securing his freedom. With a focus on the advocacy efforts of New Hampshire organizations, the evening will shed light on the plight of political prisoners and hostages worldwide, and the fight for justice and liberty for those unjustly incarcerated across the globe.
Program Schedule
Welcome – Guila Fakhoury, President, Amer Foundation
Fireside chat – Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, President, Lantos Foundation, and Paul Rusesabagina
Panel – Civil society and government working together to free hostages
Beth Cooper, Former Senior Advisor to the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs
Diane Foley, President, Foley Foundation
Zoya Fakhoury, Executive Director, Amer Foundation
Moderator: Tim Horgan, Executive Director, World Affairs Council NH
Q&A
*Following the program, Diane Foley will be available to sign copies of her newly released book American Mother.
About the Speaker
Paul Rusesabagina rose to international acclaim for his courageous efforts in saving 1,200 Tutsis and moderate Hutus during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, a tale immortalized on the silver screen. Despite global recognition and even being honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush in 2005, Rusesabagina found himself at odds with the Rwandan government's descent into dictatorship under President Paul Kagame.
In a shocking turn of events, he was abducted, tortured, and subjected to a sham trial resulting in a 25-year sentence. His ordeal sparked a relentless campaign for justice led by a coalition of human rights groups, hostage advocacy organizations, and the State Department’s Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, ultimately securing his release in March 2023.
Presented By:
