The New York based Human Rights Foundation has announced the initial speaker lineup for its 2017 Oslo Freedom Forum (OFF), taking place 22-24 May 2017 in Oslo. It includes quite a few well-known human rights defenders [the names are linked to short CVs]:
- Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway
- John Prendergast, founder of the Enough Project, an anti-genocide organization
- Anne Applebaum, journalist and Pulitzer-Prize winning author
- Mohamed Nasheed, former Maldivian president and pro-democracy leader
- Elif Shafak, award-winning Turkish novelist
- Vian Dakhil, Iraqi-Yazidi parliamentarian
- Wai Wai Nu, Burmese Rohingya lawyer
- Joe Lonsdale, Palantir co-founder and philanthropist
- Deirdre McCloskey, economic historian and rhetorician
- Guillermo Fariñas Hernández, Cuban dissident and mental health activist
- Maria Toorpakai Wazir, Pakistani women’s rights activist and squash player
- Shohret Hoshur, Uyghur human rights activist and journalist
- Xavier “Bonil” Bonilla, Ecuadorean political cartoonist
- Grace Jo, North Korean refugee
- Firuzeh Mahmoudi, Iranian pro-democracy organizer and technologist
- Leyla Hussein, Somali psychotherapist and anti-FGM activist
- Ahmedur Rashid Chowdhury, Bangladeshi secular publisher and blogger
- Evan Mawarire, Zimbabwean pastor and #ThisFlag movement leader
The attendance of the last one has become already problematic as the Human Rights Foundation reported on 1 February 2017) his arrest. According to news sources, Mawarire was detained at Harare International Airport. His attorney, Harrison Nkomo, has stated that it is likely that Mawarire will be charged with “trying to overthrow a constitutionally elected government” for his role in last year’s peaceful protests against police brutality and the economic crisis in Zimbabwe. “Today’s arbitrary arrest of Evan Mawarire is one incident in a pattern of repression faced by civil society leaders under authoritarian governments like Zimbabwe’s,” said HRF president Thor Halvorssen. [Last year, Mawarire’s #ThisFlag movement asked Zimbabweans to stay home instead of going to work, which caused the shutdowns of offices, schools, and banks. The movement protested against government corruption and extortion, police brutality, and the country’s dire economic situation. Soon after, Mawarire was arrested and charged with “inciting public disorder,” but the prosecution then added the more severe charge of subversion on the day of his trial without notifying his legal counsel. During the trial, a magistrate judge ruled it unconstitutional for the prosecution to bring new charges in court and acquitted Mawarire of all charges. However, because the acquittal rested upon a procedural matter, Mawarire was uncertain whether he could be arrested on the same incitement and subversion charges in the future.] See also his profile on Front Line Defenders: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/profile/evan-mawarire
If you are interested in participating in the OFF, you can apply to attend online. The 2017 program includes a Tech Lab, where companies will share their latest tools with conference participants to help them communicate more securely and push back against censorship and surveillance. The program will also feature an Interactive Expo, where human rights groups, artists, brands, designers, and companies can feature their work and build new partnerships. Other events include a workshop series, interactive art, live music and comedy, and a weekend of free public events in downtown Oslo. [see also: https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2015/05/26/today-you-can-watch-the-oslo-freedom-forum-via-live-streaming/]
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 
January 17, 2019 at 20:48
[…] In the meantime the Human Rights Foundation condemns the arbitrary arrest of nonviolent activist and pastor Evan Mawarire, and calls on the government of Zimbabwe to release him immediately. HRF has worked closely with Mawarire through the Oslo Freedom Forum — where he first spoke in 2017. According to news reports, armed police arrested Mawarire in his house today. He is expected to be indicted with inciting violence in the next few hours. [see also: https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2017/02/02/line-up-of-speakers-for-oslo-freedom-forum-22-24-may-20… […]
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