A Global Gathering for Freedom and Justice
The Oslo Freedom Forum 2025, hosted by the Human Rights Foundation, convened human rights defenders, exiled journalists, artists, and dissidents from across the globe. Over four days, the forum became a platform for truth-telling, solidarity-building, and urgent advocacy against authoritarianism.
This year’s event focused sharply on the ongoing erosion of civil liberties under autocratic regimes and the courage of those who continue to resist.
Spotlight on Key Themes
Speakers and panels addressed some of the most pressing human rights crises in the world today. Key themes included:
Gender apartheid in Afghanistan and Iran
State censorship and repression in Russia, China, and Sudan
Civic resistance through art, journalism, and digital mobilization
The role of global solidarity in defending refugee rights and rebuilding civil society in exile
Notable Voices and Speeches
Masih Alinejad (Iran)
Representing the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, Alinejad delivered a stirring speech about Iranian women’s defiance in the face of brutal state repression.
Nathan Law (Hong Kong)
The exiled pro-democracy activist spoke about authoritarian China’s growing global influence and the dismantling of civil society in Hong Kong.
Oleksandra Matviichuk (Ukraine)
A 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Matviichuk shared updates on legal advocacy for war crimes documentation and the struggle for democratic resilience during Russia’s ongoing war on Ukraine.
Fariiba Rezai (Afghanistan)
Afghan women’s rights defender and exile, Rezai delivered one of the forum’s most powerful speeches. She detailed the Taliban’s systemic oppression of women, the criminalization of girls’ education, and the silencing of women-led protest movements. She described Afghanistan as the world’s most extreme case of gender apartheid, and called for international legal action and moral clarity from democratic states.
Panel Highlight: No Peace Without Justice
In this key panel, speakers from Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, and Sudan demanded a new vision for post-conflict accountability.
Afghan activists highlighted the Taliban’s use of mass repression to erase women from public life.
Calls were made for international courts and tribunals to recognize gender-based persecution and civic silencing as crimes against humanity.
The session underscored a unified message: Peace cannot come at the cost of justice.
Afghan Participation: Global Advocacy from Exile
A representative from Generation Outside Afghanistan took part in advocacy workshops on:
Refugee protection
Transnational resistance networks
Representation of displaced voices in policymaking
This demonstrated that despite exile, Afghan civic actors continue to engage in global justice dialogues and shape international human rights discourse.
2025 Oslo Freedom Award Honorees
The forum’s closing ceremony honored three extraordinary individuals:
Oleksandra Matviichuk – for leading legal efforts to document war crimes in Ukraine
Fariiba Rezai – for fearless human rights advocacy under Taliban rule
Victor Ochen (Uganda) – for peacebuilding work among war-affected youth and communities
These recipients symbolize the power of individual courage to challenge systemic injustice and spark change.
Conclusion
The Oslo Freedom Forum 2025 reaffirmed that even amid oppression, censorship, and exile, voices of resistance continue to inspire and organize for freedom.
It was a powerful reminder that dignity, justice, and human rights are not abstract ideals—they are lived struggles, led by people whose courage can shift the course of history.
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