When the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) was founded 20 years ago, one thing was clear: defending freedom meant telling the truth and telling it loudly. Ever since Thor Halvorssen, HRF’s founder and CEO, first denounced the crimes of the Chávez regime in the Wall Street Journal, the media has been our megaphone.
Through headlines, broadcasts, and op-eds, HRF has shared the courage of dissidents and exposed the crimes of dictators. In covering groundbreaking events like the Oslo Freedom Forum, bold campaigns like Flash Drives for Freedom, and creative initiatives like Wear Your Values, the press has helped amplify our mission to protect and promote human rights and freedom across the globe.
HRF’s 20 Years of Media Impact is more than a collection of stories. It is a record of how journalism and storytelling have advanced the global struggle for human rights and democracy.
As you read through these highlights, we hope you feel a sense of urgency as well as pride. This booklet is a celebration of two decades of HRF’s hard work with a clear purpose, but this work is far from over. There are millions more stories to tell.
Here’s to the next 20 years of keeping freedom in the spotlight.
