"I pulled out threads from the rotten military blankets, and I started making a doll, hoping it would be a totem for our freedom. My cellmates gathered around and started to help, and we started laughing, hoping, and dreaming.” Syrian artist and activist Azza Abo Rebieh took the stage at the 2025 #OsloFreedomForum to share how she has used her art as a powerful tool for resilience and a beacon of hope for a free and democratic Syria.

North Korean defector and human rights advocate Kim Yumi shed light on the realities of life under one of the world's most repressive regimes at the 2025 Oslo Freedom Forum. Her courage and resilience are a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the urgent need for global attention to the plight of the North Korean people. Watch her full talk:

.@leopoldolopez argues that without sanctions, autocrats steal, repress, and walk free, but @ChrisSabatini sees a different danger: that sanctions are pushing regimes like China and Iran into powerful new alliances that could weaken the West. What do you think? In partnership with the @OsloFF, we bring you: Are Sanctions Effective?

Some of you have seen the so-called “sex tape of Masih Alinejad.” For a long time, I stayed silent like so many women are expected to. Finally I found the strength to break my silence. This is about a regime using AI to wage war against women of Iran. Thank you @hrf and @OsloFF for creating space to confront this abuse.

So many Uyghurs are forced into labor to feed the global supply chains. @nyrola Elimä delivered a powerful firsthand account of life in the Uyghur region under China's repressive surveillance state. She calls for justice, truth, and a dedication to human dignity for the Uyghurs from the international community at the 2025 #OsloFreedomForum.

“You have something that’s called the power of the powerless. You have the freedom to think about the future, to meet allies, and to work together.” HRF Chair @yulia_navalnaya inspires a global community of activists and dissidents to continue striving toward freedom and democracy around the world at the 2025 #OsloFreedomForum.

Despite censorship & surveillance, @enrisco has worked to share the stories of life in Cuba. At the 2025 #OsloFreedomForum, he explores how the regime manipulates memory & identity to maintain control & how totalitarianism lingers in the stories we tell.

Is it ethical to impose sanctions that hurt ordinary people? @lizzyshackelfor: "The cost that [sanctions] impose on on various populations is one that reflects poorly back on the sanctioning countries. So in this case, the United States. It can harm our credibility in those countries." Artie McConnell: "[Dictators] use sanctions to oppress parts of the population that they feel are subversive. That is a justification for why sanctions should be imposed in the first place." Watch the full debate now in partnership @HRF and @OsloFF.

Thailand’s political system, shaped by coups, military influence, & elite interests, continues to deny the people’s voice. @paritw92 is taking a stance, making sure no cases of corruption go undetected or unpunished within parliament. Watch his full talk at the 2025 #OsloFreedomForum:

.@lizzyshackelfor: “The signal of using sanctions can be very effective, but not when we hand it out like candy.” Artie McConnell: “Anytime there's a prohibition on anything, you will have a black market. You will have attempts at evasion. I think that shows that the sanctions work, frankly.” Watch the full debate to hear more: Are Sanctions an Effective Policy Tool? Presented in partnership with @HRF and @OsloFF.