Oslo Freedom Forum (OFF)

The 2026 Oslo Freedom Forum has come to a close, but the impact of our gathering continues to resonate.

RT @HRF: How can technology empower women and girls living under one of the world’s most repressive regimes? @RoyaMahboob, Afghanistan’s first female tech CEO and founder of the “Afghan Dreamers” All-Girls Robotics Team, shares how technology continues to empower women and girls and give them hope for a better future, even in a country that is known as “the worst place in the world for women.” In this episode of The Dissident’s Mic, Roya shares how technology and education can create opportunities for Afghan girls to pursue their dreams and ambitions, despite the restrictions they face under Taliban rule. Listen to the full episode →

In June, María Corina Machado finally made it in person to the 2026 #OsloFreedomForum after years of attending virtually. On stage, she shared her hopes for Venezuela and her plan to return and build a democratic future hand in hand with its people. Machado faced repeated obstacles in her attempts to return home. This September, she was denied entry into Venezuela three times in just 24 hours. Less than six months after her talk in Oslo, and after 10 months in exile, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate has returned to Venezuela. Revisit her full talk on the future she envisions for Venezuela →

RT @HRF: After leaving office, Havel continued to champion political freedom, human rights, and civil society worldwide, including as second chairman of our organization, a position he accepted in 2009. Havel also sent remarks that year at our first Oslo Freedom Forum in Norway where he reflected on the Responsibility of a Free Society:

RT @HRF: Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett has spent her career fighting for prisoners of conscience, from chairing the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom to leading the @LantosFndn. As Xi Jinping sits down with Trump this week, her message is simple: #ReleaseThem

RT @HRF: Tencho Gyatso (SaveTibetOrg) has spent two decades advocating for Tibet, from Congress to Dharamshala. As Xi Jinping sits down with Trump this week, her message is simple: #ReleaseThem

RT @HRF: Sophie Luo (@luoshch) continues to bravely advocate for the release of her husband, imprisoned Chinese lawyer Ding Jiaxi. As Xi Jinping sits down with Trump this week, this is her message: #ReleaseThem

RT @HRF: @ZubayraZubeyre, a prominent Uyghur community member and the Co-Executive Director of the Network for Uyghur Rights (NUR), has not seen her brother, Abdurazzak Shamseden, for 28 long years. Her brother remains behind bars as a political prisoner in a Chinese jail. As Xi Jinping sits down with Trump this week, her message: #ReleaseThem

RT @HRF: Last night, @GaoPu1231 saw his father’s face projected onto the streets of Washington, D.C. Pastor Gao Quanfu is nearly 70, in poor health, and arbitrarily detained since May 2025 for exercising his freedom of religion. Gao Pu’s mother, Pang Yu, also remains arbitrarily detained. Today, as Xi Jinping sits down with President Trump, Gao Pu has one demand: #ReleaseThem

RT @HRF: Last night, Owen Chow’s face was projected across Washington, D.C. He is serving 7 years and 9 months in the HK47 case for his role in Hong Kong’s democracy movement. Today, as Xi Jinping meets with President Trump, Owen’s friend @_joeysiu is making sure his name stays in public view: #ReleaseThem

RT @HRF: @Yaqiu has spent years advocating for political prisoners, human rights, and freedom in China. As Xi Jinping visits Washington, D.C., she has a message for him: #ReleaseThem

RT @HRF: Misran Dolan, president of the Uyghur American Association (@Uyghur_American) is a leading voice. He shares why human rights must remain central to US–China relations. As Xi Jinping visits Washington, D.C., Dolan’s message to Xi is clear: #ReleaseThem

RT @HRF: Last night, @RushanAbbas saw her sister's image projected across Washington, D.C. Just days after Rushan spoke out against the regime’s abuses, Dr. Gulshan Abbas was forcibly disappeared. She has now spent eight years in a Chinese prison on fabricated charges. Rushan has one message for Xi Jinping: #ReleaseThem

RT @HRF: As Xi Jinping visits Washington, D.C., we are projecting the faces and names of political prisoners across the city. @GulchehraHoja has spent years speaking out for Uyghurs imprisoned and disappeared by the Chinese Communist Party. She remains committed to advocating for her loved ones and her community. Her story is part of a message Xi Jinping cannot ignore: #ReleaseThem

RT @HRF: Last night, @JewherIlham saw her father's face projected onto the streets of Washington. Twelve years and he's still detained. Her message to Xi Jinping as he sits down with President Trump: #ReleaseThem

RT @HRF: Last night, as Xi Jinping landed in Washington for his first state visit in more than a decade, we projected the faces of eight political prisoners onto the streets of D.C. Their names rolled through the city on truck ads. Their faces were prominently featured in Roll Call. Their families continue speaking up for them — because the Chinese Communist Party locked them up for peaceful acts: teaching, writing, worshipping, speaking, simply existing. Joshua Wong, awaiting sentence on a charge that carries a maximum of life imprisonment. Owen Chow, sentenced to nearly 8 years in the HK47 case. Dr. Gulshan Abbas, taken days after her sister spoke in Washington. Ilham Tohti, serving life as a professor. Gao Zhen, sentenced to three years for art. Pastors Wang Lin, Gao Yingjia, and Gao Quanfu, imprisoned for leading their churches. Today, as Xi sits down with President Trump, HRF has one simple request: #ReleaseThem

RT @HRF: @GraceJDrexel advocated for the release of her father, Pastor Ezra Jin, who was imprisoned for exercising his freedom of religion. He was freed this past July. Her advocacy continues: Last night she stood beneath the faces of eight prisoners of conscience projected across Washington, D.C., in solidarity with the family of those still waiting to be reunited with their loved ones. #ReleaseThem

RT @HRF: When Xi Jinping arrived in Washington, D.C., we put the faces and names of political prisoners across the streets of the city. For those who have experienced the Chinese Communist Party’s abuses firsthand, this was a moment to demand freedom for those still behind bars. Their message to Xi Jinping: #ReleaseThem

RT @HRF: Eight people. A student, a legislator, a professor, a doctor, an artist, and pastors. All imprisoned by the Chinese Communist Party for peaceful acts. As Xi Jinping visits Washington, D.C., this week, we call on him to release them all, now. This video brings together the friends and loved ones of these eight prisoners of conscience, demanding the release of the people with whom they desperately want to reunite. Joshua Wong, arrested and detained multiple times over more than a decade for his peaceful activism and for advocating for democratic reform — awaiting sentence after a Sept. 2 guilty plea on a national security charge that carries a maximum of life imprisonment. Owen Chow, a student activist turned legislator, was sentenced to 7 years and 9 months in the HK47 trial. Dr. Gulshan Abbas, a retired physician sentenced to 20 years in a secret trial, forcibly disappeared days after her sister spoke out in Washington. Ilham Tohti, a professor serving a life term for building understanding between Uyghurs and Han. Gao Zhen, an artist sentenced in August 2026 to three years for sculptures made a decade before the law they were charged under took effect. Pastors Wang Lin, Gao Yingjia, and Gao Quanfu, imprisoned for leading their congregations peacefully and faithfully. These eight represent thousands of innocent people imprisoned for exercising basic rights. Their families will not be silent. The world must not be silent. Free them now. #ReleaseThem

Will Smith’s decision to continue collaborating with Angola’s regime-backed PR campaign shows why amplifying the voices of those fighting repression matters. At the Oslo Freedom Forum, we gave Angolan dissident rapper and activist @LuatyBeirao a platform to share his experience of detention, repression, and the fight for freedom in Angola. For Angolans pushing for change, having their stories heard matters. Listen to Beirão’s full talk →

Celebrities should not lend their credibility to dictatorships. HRF urges @WillSmith2real to end his collaboration with Angola’s corrupt regime and stop helping whitewash its record of repression and human rights abuses.

RT @HRF: What does kleptocracy look like for the people living under it? It can mean failing hospitals, missing resources, and institutions that are unable to serve those who depend on them.