Dissidents and Dictators

Much of France's African empire fell away during decolonization, but 15 nations still use the CFA Franc and thus remain under its control. France has historically devalued the CFA Franc to buy cheaper goods at the expense of the 183 million Africans in the CFA zone. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 South by Southwest (SXSW) conference, participants discuss their battle against monetary coloni...

This episode, recorded at the 2023 South by Southwest (SXSW) conference, explores the struggle for human rights and democracy in the digital age. Increasingly sophisticated technology has provided new avenues for authoritarian regimes to target activists, stifle dissent, and encroach on civil liberties. Panelists discuss how regimes abuse technology and share insight into how the tech industry can...

One of the greatest financial innovations in the past five years is the stablecoin — a virtual asset pegged to the dollar but used heavily by individuals who can’t access their country’s currency. In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, we hear from the creator of the world’s biggest stablecoin, Tether, and a Nigerian entrepreneur who can attest to the remarkable rise of stableco...

Featured Guests: Anjan Sundaram: Author and journalist Alex Gonzalez Davidson: Environmental activist and president of Mother Nature Cambodia Mónica López Baltodano: Nicaraguan human rights lawyer John Unzima: Ugandan journalist and environmental activist This episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, explores the intersections between human rights, technology, and environmental advocacy....

Saudi Arabia’s murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi; Belarus’ hijacking of a plane to arrest opposition journalist Roman Protasevich; and Rwanda’s forceful rendition of “Hotel Rwanda” hero Paul Rusesabagina are some of the most well-known examples of transnational repression by authoritarian regimes. They are part of a larger trend of regimes aggressively reaching across the globe...

Thanks to the Winter Olympics in Beijing, and Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup, 2022 was dubbed “sportswashing’s biggest year.” This episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, shares powerful, behind-the-scenes stories and tips on raising awareness of how authoritarian regimes weaponize global games to whitewash their abuses. Karim Zidan: Author and journalist Malcolm Bidali: Labor rig...

This episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, explores the correlation between the rise in authoritarian regimes and modern slavery. Looking to history and learning from the present, panelists discuss how slavery has been wielded as a way for those regimes to maintain power and how affected communities have stood in resistance to change the future. Featured Guests: 1. Amy Rahe: Managing D...

Over 17.6 million Ukrainians — more than 40% of the country’s population — require humanitarian assistance. HRF’s partner organization, Renegade Relief Runners, focuses on delivering essential supplies, including food, clean water, and medical aid, to Ukraine’s most heavily impacted regions. In this episode, Renegade Relief Runners co-founders Julia Abratańska and Chris Tiller discuss Ukraine’s cu...

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in Taiwan, we hear from Chung Ching Kwong (鄺頌晴), a Hong Kong political and digital rights activist. Kwong discusses the parallels between Taiwan and Hong Kong and urges the international community to press their governments to hold China accountable.

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in Taiwan, we hear from Wu’er Kaixi (吾爾開希), general secretary of Taiwan's Parliamentary Human Rights Commission. Born in China as an Uyghur national, Wu’er Kaixi was one of the founders and key organizers of the 1989 Tiananmen student movement. Listed as No. 2 on the Chinese government’s most wanted student leaders after the June 4 massa...

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in Taiwan, we hear from Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit (塔納通·宗龍倫吉), a pro-democracy activist and leader of the opposition Future Forward Party in Thailand. As a result of his advocacy for freedom and democracy, Juangroongruangkit was stripped of his parliamentary seat by the ruling military junta.

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in Taiwan, we hear from Freddy Tshiong-Tso Lim (林昶佐), the lead vocalist of the Taiwanese metal band Chthonic and a member of Taiwan’s parliament. He shares how Taiwan can help play a critical role in protecting and promoting human rights, in the face of authoritarian aggression.

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in Taiwan, we hear from Areej al-Sadhan (阿雷潔·薩丹), activist and sister to Red Crescent humanitarian worker Abdulrahman al-Sadhan who was imprisoned during a mass crackdown in Saudi Arabia. Areej remains outspoken on the ill-treatment of her brother and other activists and publicly denounced Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s brutal human...

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, we hear from Garry Kasparov, chairman of the Human Rights Foundation (HRF). Widely considered history’s greatest chess player, Kasparov retired from the sport in 2005 to devote his time to human rights activism. An outspoken advocate for democracy and ardent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kasparov speaks on the war...

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, anti-rape activist, beauty pageant queen, and author Toufah Jallow speaks on breaking the culture of silence around sexual violence in The Gambia and inspiring the #IamToufah movement, Gambia’s #MeToo. Jallow founded the Toufah Foundation to create a community of support for sexual violence survivors and to advocate for accounta...

In recent years, FIFA has earned a reputation for granting the hosting rights of its most prestigious competition, the World Cup, to countries ruled by authoritarian regimes. In December, Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup, despite global concerns regarding the country’s poor human rights record. In this episode, we hear from Håvard Melnæs, editor of the Norwegian soccer magazine Josimar, as the 2022...

In August 2021, the Taliban forcibly reclaimed control of Afghanistan, promising to institute a modern form of Islamic government. Instead, the regime has systematically implemented gender-specific measures against women, in direct contrast to their initial claims of substantial reform. The progress of Afghanistan’s civil society has declined under the Taliban’s draconian governance of women’s rig...

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, we hear from Berta Valle, a Nicaraguan journalist, human rights activist, and vocal critic of the authoritarian Ortega regime. Berta is currently in exile, campaigning tirelessly to bring international attention to the 140+ political prisoners in Nicaragua, including her husband, former presidential candidate and 2019 OFF speake...

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, we hear from exiled Hong Kong activist Anna Kwok, who currently serves as the Executive Director at Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC). Anna reflects on the pro-democracy movement within Hong Kong and her hopes to strengthen the Hong Kong diaspora globally.

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, we hear from Tibetan activist and community organizer Chemi Lhamo, who has dedicated her life to resisting the Chinese occupation of her homeland. Tune in to learn how we can rise above tyranny together and elevate the Tibetan cause.

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, Venezuelan Opposition leader Leopoldo López discusses the fight for democracy in Venezuela and globally. “There is no one person, there is no one movement, there is no one country, there is no one company that can be successful in bringing about freedom. It’s only about the ‘We’.”

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, we hear from Oleksandra Matviichuk, the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and head of the Center for Civil Liberties. Matviichuk speaks on the horrors and atrocities of Putin’s war in Ukraine — she says, "You don't need to be Ukrainian to support Ukraine. You just need to be human."

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, we hear from Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad, who spearheaded the “My Stealthy Freedom” campaign to protest Iran’s compulsory hijab laws for women and girls. Alinejad talks about the recent murder of Mahsa Amini and the reality of life for women living under the tyrannical Iranian regime.

Recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, Hong Kong political and digital rights activist Chung Ching (Glacier) Kwong shares why the international community should stand in solidarity with Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. She was previously the founder and spokesperson of Keyboard Frontline, an organization dedicated to monitoring censorship and digital rights, and a former columnist at Apple Da...

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, we hear from Roman Dobrokhotov, a Russian investigative journalist, activist, political scientist, and one of the founders and leaders of the 5th of December Party. Dobrokhotov discusses the tools necessary for journalists to expose dictatorships, and his own work with the investigative online newspaper The Insider.