One of the greatest benefits of the Oslo Freedom Forum, say its participants, is that it makes people feel less alone. If you are a dissident up against a dictatorship, you can feel very, very alone. But the people at OFF are in the same boat, so to speak. They can trade stories, compare notes — be understood. And they feel less alone.
– Jay Nordlinger, National Review
On May 23-25, after three years away from Oslo, our community reunited in Norway for the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum. More than 1,300 individuals from all walks of life and all corners of the globe joined together to discuss the most pressing human rights issues, brainstorm new ways to expand freedom across the globe, and act as true CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE.
The 2022 program featured inspiring talks by activists, scholars, and journalists from around the world, including Belarus, Hong Kong, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tanzania, Tibet, Ukraine, the Uyghur Region, and Venezuela; compelling art installations and live music performances; and action-oriented panels, fireside chats, and workshops with global thought leaders.
You can watch all theater talks and interactive sessions at oslofreedomforum.com and on YouTube. Each week, sessions will be released on our Dissidents & Dictators podcast series, which you can find on all major streaming platforms.
Drawings by cartoonist Liza Donnelly
Making Headlines
More than 150 international and local journalists attended the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum to cover these leading human rights advocates. To date, there have been more than 445 unique articles, profiles, op-eds, interviews, podcasts, and videos produced about the conference and its speakers, in more than 22 languages and from 47 countries. Some highlights include:
National Review – For Freedom, Against Dictatorship
CNN – Connect the World
NRK – Dagsrevyen
The Guardian – ‘You have to step over your fear’: how to take on a dictator
The Washington Post – Iranian Artists-in-Exile Find a Vehicle for Protest
VG – Hjelpeløse FN
In addition to print and digital news outlets, OFF reaches millions of people through social media. OFF generated more than 10.8 million social media impressions across Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. After the end of the forum, over 50,000 people have watched the stories and discussions that were shared on stage and in the interactive sessions rooms.
Be a Champion of Change
Whether you were able to join us in-person or online, we encourage you to celebrate and support activists beyond the Oslo Freedom Forum. This year’s theme, CHAMPION OF CHANGE, represented a strong, scalable call to action for our community, inviting you to join the global struggle for democracy and freedom.
Donate
Donate Cash
Donate to HRF or your favorite HRF program. HRF is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, and all donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Our tax ID number is 20-2669700.
Donate Bitcoin
HRF accepts Bitcoin donations via BTCPay Server, a self-hosted, open-source cryptocurrency payment processor. Learn more here.
Volunteer
If you believe you have a unique set of skills or abilities that HRF could utilize in the global struggle for freedom, please send an e-mail to [email protected] with “Volunteer Opportunities” in the subject line.
Attend 2023 OFF
If you would like to attend the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, taking place June 5-7, register here! Use the promo code earlybird2022 for 15% off your ticket.
