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2021 A N N UA L REPORT
We know who the real heroes are.
The past year has made one thing painfully clear: the greatest champions of freedom and human rights are no longer
Western governments and multilateral organizations like the United Nations. In fact, they never really were.
When a dictator rigs an election, jails a journalist, or murders a dissident, the most effective response instead comes
from courageous activists and civil society organizations. From the disastrous US withdrawal from Afghanistan, to
the UN’s failure to hold the Saudi regime accountable for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, to the West’s continued
indifference toward Putin’s corruption or Paul Kagame’s brutal tyranny, it is clear that human rights defenders around
the world have to take matters into their own hands by mobilizing movements and holding those in power accountable
for their abuses. This is where the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) steps in.
HRF is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights where they are most
at risk. At HRF, we know who the real heroes are. They are brave individuals in countries under authoritarian rule who put
their lives on the line to stand up for what is right. And we know how to help them too.
In this report, we will describe how, over the past year, we have successfully advocated for the release of prisoners of
conscience from Cuba to Tanzania; elevated the stories and struggles of activists from across the world; exposed the
attempts of dictatorships, from Saudi Arabia to Uganda, to whitewash their abuses; launched creative campaigns
to raise awareness of some of 2021’s most pressing human rights issues; developed educational resources for those
living under authoritarian regimes; sparked new collaborations among human rights defenders and philanthropists,
journalists, and technologists; and much more.
This past year, we were very pleased to once again host the Oslo Freedom Forum (OFF) in-person in Miami (and
simultaneously in Oslo), where we amplified the voices of activists who speak truth to power and have ignited
movements that seek justice and defy authoritarian regimes. There is simply no gathering in the world like OFF, and
dictators know it. They try anything they can to stymie our efforts, from hacking our livestream in order to censor us,
to imprisoning dissidents to prevent them from attending. However, as we learned at this year’s OFF, as long as one
person is willing to speak out, there is hope that the truth will prevail.
As human rights advocates continue to struggle against mass surveillance, online censorship, and government-
sponsored hacking, HRF connects them with experts in the tech and digital security fields to develop new strategies
to combat authoritarianism. Consider the pioneering work we have done to support individuals using Bitcoin to deliver
financial freedom across the globe, and to help our fearless associates in South Korea, who use flash drives to deliver
information into North Korea, the most isolated country on the planet.
As we enter 2022, HRF will continue to grow and support the brave activists, dissidents, journalists, and human rights
advocates who are making their societies freer and more just, one step at a time.
As a charitable organization without an endowment, HRF is entirely dependent on the generosity of donors like yourself
in order to carry out our work. We are immensely grateful for your contributions to our work, and with your support, we
can continue to hold dictators and their henchmen accountable and support the civil society leaders advocating for
freedom and building a more peaceful, prosperous, and democratic world.
Cover illustration by Lilia Kvatsabaya
Letter to a Political Prisoner With gratitude,
“I was inspired to create this artwork by the solidarity and support of Belarusians towards political prisoners. Letters are the only
way for people, who are in prison for their political views, to have a connection with the outside world. Strengthening this connec-
tion, through communication with people from different cities of Belarus, helps prisoners to maintain a positive attitude. Unfortu-
nately, many people do not get answers to their letters due to strict censorship. In my work, I depicted a bird that turns into a letter.
The bird in this illustration is a symbol of hope, which overcomes the grid and gets to its recipient.” Thor Halvorssen Céline Assaf-Boustani
Lilia Kvatsabaya is a Belarusian illustrator and graphic designer. She is one of HRF’s 2021 Artists in Residency (p. 27). CEO President
p. 25
p. 20
p. 14
It is the end of 2021, and the Russian army is amassing along the border of Ukraine. As American and European
diplomats scramble to prevent war, it is worth reflecting on the path that led us to the brink of another
European conflict.
In 2014, Ukraine chose to reject Russian authoritarianism, and establish closer ties with the European Union.
Despite the annexation of the Crimean peninsula, a frozen conflict in the Donbas, information warfare, and
p. 27
countless cyber attacks, reformers defended Ukraine’s democratic project. And yet, through a combination
of apathy, ignorance, and misplaced goodwill, the democratic world has allowed Putin to retain a veto over
Ukraine’s future. Democratic leaders have cozied up to Putin, accepting board positions on Russian oil and
gas companies, tolerating Russian money laundering, and seeking diplomatic resets after every crisis.
Although Putin is now a clear and present danger, Europe and the United States are still getting it wrong
elsewhere. In Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and China, Western leaders continue to smile and discuss business over
human rights and accountability. Instead of taking a stand on principles of good and evil, right and wrong,
and the universal values of human rights and human life, we have engagement, resets, and moral equivalence.
Today, the so-called leaders of the free world talk about promoting democracy while treating the rulers of the
world’s most repressive regimes as equals. The policies of engagement with dictators have failed on every
level, and it is about time to recognize this failure.
HRF provides the moral clarity that so many of our leaders refuse to see. We expose how authoritarian
regimes stifle freedom and destroy prosperity all over the world and support brave activists and human rights
defenders who are on the front lines of the struggle for freedom and democracy. And, importantly, we will
always put justice and accountability over business and convenience.
Thank you for supporting our work.
Garry Kasparov
Chairman
p. 31
p. 30
p. 15
4 5
TABLE OF CONTENTS OUR MISSION
The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is a nonpartisan,
nonprofit organization that promotes and protects
human rights globally, with a focus on closed societies.
HRF unites people in the common cause of defending
01 Our Mission 27 Art & Culture human rights and promoting liberal democracy. Our
mission is to ensure that freedom is both preserved and
HRF’s Key Areas Art in Protest promoted around the world.
02 HRF’s Work Around the World Artist Residency
We focus our work on the founding ideas of the human
04 Media Impact Virtual Galleries rights movement: those most purely represented in the
1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1976
Media Highlights Uncomfortable Truth
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
HRF’s Op-eds 32 Tech & Liberty
08 Policy Research & Legal Advocacy Connecting Technologists
HRF’S KEY AREAS
Political Regime Classification with Activists
HRF & Bitcoin
Original Research on Rights POLICY RESEARCH
& Regimes 34 Online Discussions HRF conducts research and publishes reports analyzing:
Blog Posts & Notes on Policy Dissidents & Dictators • The state of political freedom and authoritarianism globally
• The correlation between authoritarianism and global crises
Impact Litigation 36 Direct Support • The intersection of human rights and a variety of other fields, including, but not limited to,
art and the tech industry
Universal Periodic Reviews Freedom Fellowship
• Political regime types, particularly competitive authoritarian and fully
Anti-Corruption Initiative Working Retreat authoritarian regimes
14 2021 Oslo Freedom Forum Oslo Scholars PUBLIC EDUCATION
Speakers 40 New Collaborations HRF engages a global audience to support human rights issues by:
• Hosting world-renowned conferences and student events
Interactive Programming Uncovering Spyware • Publishing op-eds, blog posts, podcasts, and video recordings
17 Global Advocacy Technologies • Sharing social media and original video content
& Public Education Raising Awareness for Syria
GLOBAL ADVOCACY
Belarus Solidarity Fund Supporting Belarusian Protesters HRF advocates for individuals unfairly persecuted by authoritarian
Celebrities & Dictators Bitcoin Education in Togo regimes through:
Empty Box Campaign 42 Financials • Impact litigation with international judicial bodies, aimed at influencing
authoritarian governments
CCP Disruption Initiative 43 Staff & Board • Multi-pronged campaigns that expose human rights abuses and call for
transparency, justice, and accountability
THE DISSIDENT 45 Join our Global Movement • Sharing social media and original video content
Flash Drives for Freedom
DIRECT SUPPORT
HRF supports the human rights activists, dissident artists, and journalists in our
global network through:
• Technical support, digital training tools, and networking opportunities
• Microgrants for civil society organizations at the helm of change
• Artist residency opportunities and the Havel Prize for Creative Dissent
1
HRF’S WORK
AROUND THE WORLD
AFRICA
HRF works to promote democracy and human rights
around the world, with a focus on closed societies.
ETHIOPIA
HRF wrote an op-ed
This map illustrates a small sample of HRF’s global spotlighting Ethiopian
prime minister and Nobel
achievements in 2021. Peace Prize winner Abiy
Ahmed, who is presiding
over human rights abuses
in Ethiopia (p. 7).
UGANDA
HRF wrote letters to
musicians DJ Khaled and
Akon about the urgent
situation in Uganda as
part of our Celebrities &
Dictators program
(p. 18).
SENEGAL
HRF’s Bitcoin
Development Fund ASIA-PACIFIC & SOUTH ASIA
THE AMERICAS EUROPE & CENTRAL ASIA helped teach activists
how to use Bitcoin as a
tool for financial freedom TAIWAN
BOLIVIA, CHILE, CUBA, NORWAY (p. 32-33). SYRIA HRF hosted a virtual
ECUADOR, MEXICO, HRF hosted a satellite HRF partnered with screening of the 2021 Oslo
NICARAGUA, & Oslo Freedom Forum The Syria Campaign Freedom Forum in Miami
VENEZUELA event for our Norwegian TOGO for students in Taiwan
HRF worked with to host a panel
Activists from Latin community (p. 14). AFGHANISTAN discussion on the (p. 14-16).
America joined HRF for the Togolese human
HRF’s Art in Protest conflict in Syria (p. 40).
first-ever Working Retreat BELARUS rights activist Farida
program featured UYGHUR REGION
HRF sent $1,000,000+ to Nabourema to build
for Latin America (p. 38).
activists and protesters in
Afghan artist
a financial literacy
MIDDLE EAST HRF launched the
Shamsia Hassani’s LAOS
Belarus (p. 17). program for local IRAN Uncomfortable Truth
US (NYC + DC) work (p. 27). HRF published a report
communities in Togo HRF featured the campaign to raise awareness
HRF projected images of IRAQ and an accompanying
SERBIA (p. 41). PaykanArtCar, an about the Uyghur genocide
Jamal Khashoggi onto Days ahead of the elections op-ed on the intersection
HRF’s Freedom Fellows TURKMENISTAN art project that (p. 31).
prominent monuments to in Iraq, Iraqi political satirist of foreign investments
shed light on the Saudi received training HRF published a blog gives a voice to and human rights abuses
post highlighting the ZIMBABWE Ahmed Albasheer delivered LGBTQ+ people
regime’s crimes (p. 25). on nonviolence and JAPAN in Laos (p. 10).
cult of personality HRF submitted a UN a talk at the 2021 Oslo in Iran, at the 2021
movement building HRF launched the Empty
of Turkmenistan’s Universal Periodic Review Freedom Forum (p. 15). Oslo Freedom
US (Miami) (p. 36-37). Box Campaign to disinvite
dictator, Gurbanguly for Zimbabwe (p. 13). Forum (p. 14-16). dictators to the 2021 CHINA
HRF hosted the 2021 Oslo
RUSSIA Berdymukhammedov QATAR Tokyo Olympics (p. 20). HRF received 4.7 B media
Freedom Forum (p. 14-16).
Imprisoned Russian (p. 11). HRF wrote a letter to impressions on articles and
RWANDA
CUBA dissident Alexey Navalny partners and sponsors SAUDI ARABIA research related to the Chinese
HRF wrote letters to TV NORTH KOREA
HRF launched a digi- authored a speech in AZERBAIJAN of the 2022 FIFA World HRF joined the Communist Party’s human rights
host Samantha Bee and HRF reached a milestone of
tal gallery to support prison that was read at HRF published a blog Cup in Qatar, as part Khashoggi Ban abuses (p. 21-22).
the NBA to warn them not sending 100,000 flash drives into
Cuban dissident the 2021 Oslo Freedom post on Azerbaijan’s of our Celebrities & Working Group to
to whitewash Rwanda’s North Korea, as part of our Flash
artists (p. 29). Forum in Miami (p. 15). dictatorship (p. 11). Dictators program (p.18), develop mechanisms
brutal regime (p. 18). Drives for Freedom program
and published an to facilitate the
submission of cases (p. 26).
VENEZUELA HUNGARY accompanying podcast
HRF submitted HRF published a blog post TANZANIA (p. 34-35). under the newly-
HRF successfully announced Khashoggi HONG KONG
a UN Universal on the Hungarian prime
petitioned the UN Ban (p. 13). At RightsCon 2021,
Periodic Review for minister’s authoritarian
to release arbitrarily HRF hosted a lightning
Venezuela (p. 13). tactics (p. 11).
detained activist talk on the recent
Theodory Giyan (p. 12). crackdown in Hong
Kong (p. 22).
2 3
MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
January 12, 2021 January 25, 2021
A new movie about Jamal Khashoggi reveals a Wall Street Returns to Riyadh
protégé who is alive and under assault
MEDIA IMPACT
HRF’s global advocacy campaigns and events are
covered by the world’s top media outlets, including,
in 2021, The Associated Press, The New York Times, The
Washington Post, TIME, CNN, The Hill, The Guardian,
USA Today, Politico, The Hollywood Reporter, and many
more. HRF’s media impact ensures that stories about the
struggle against tyranny reach millions of people around February 5, 2021 March 14, 2021
the world, and ultimately inspire change. “Dissident” Producer Thor Halvorssen on Alleged Freedom Money
Saudi Troll Campaign Against Film on Rotten
Tomatoes, IMDb
11,335 MEDIA MENTIONS
27 B MEDIA IMPRESSIONS
18,573,256 SOCIAL MEDIA
IMPRESSIONS
$74,272,034 EARNED SOCIAL
MEDIA VALUE
October 5, 2021
Navalny from prison: Corruption flourishes when
October 10, 2021
The Oslo Freedom Forum
there’s disregard for human rights
5
MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS HRF OP-EDS
October 6, 2021 January 26, 2021 February 21, 2021 April 18, 2021 May 11, 2021 • Garry Kasparov
Postcard from the Oslo Freedom Forum “The activists themselves spoke of how Alex Gladstein Malaak Jamal & Jenny Wang Garry Kasparov & Céline Assaf-Boustani
much they value real engagement, In the Fight Against Human Rights Abuses Why Would Biden Want Akon’s Romance
compared to other global conferences Extremism, Don’t in Laos Are Rampant. a Summit With Putin, with Dictatorship
where they said they sometimes feel Demonize Surveillance- International Businesses Whom He Calls a ‘Killer’?
Busting Tools like Signal Should Take Action
treated as props. The exiled Chinese and Bitcoin
artist Badiucao — who was awarded the
Forum’s Václav Havel Prize for Creative
Dissent — called the event ‘a global safe
harbor’ guarding against the loneliness of
exile. ‘Here we do not feel lonely. We feel
connected.’”
October 15, 2021 November 9, 2021 May 25, 2021 • Michelle Gulino July 1, 2021 • Jenny Wang July 6, 2021 • Thor Halvorssen Sept 21, 2021 • Enes Kanter
“Be Human” Human Rights Foundation Leaders Call for Justin & Malaak Jamal & Joyce Ho & Katrina Lantos Swett & Garry Kasparov
Bieber to Cancel Performance in Saudi Arabia
The Nobel Peace Prize Behind China’s Don’t let dictators A platform for the world’s
winner who’s presiding grand façade lies grandstand with world tyrants: The UN’s General
over a humanitarian deep insecurity leaders in Tokyo. Reclaim Assembly continues to
catastrophe Olympics values. amplify the words of the
worst dictators.
6 7
POLICY RESEARCH
& LEGAL ADVOCACY
POLITICAL REGIME
CLASSIFICATION
To fulfill our mission of promoting freedom and democra-
cy in closed societies, HRF focuses our limited resources
on countries where independent media, activists, NGOs,
and opposition parties are under permanent threat and
systematically prevented from forming meaningful op-
position to the regime. To that end, HRF has taken on
classifying all of the countries in the world, with an aim to
distinguish democratic from authoritarian regimes. Our
Political Regime Project categorizes countries as having
“democracies,” “competitive authoritarian regimes,” or
“fully authoritarian regimes.”*
54% OF THE WORLD’S POPULATION LIVES UNDER
COMPETITIVE FULLY AUTHORITARIAN AN AUTHORITARIAN REGIME.
DEMOCRACIES AUTHORITARIAN REGIMES REGIMES
106 countries 41 countries 55 countries
*HRF classifies countries in the world based on their political regime types, following the definitions suggested by renowned
3,609,368,422 people 1,232,788,047 people 3,030,675,594 people University of Toronto and Harvard University political scientists Lucan A. Way and Steven Levitsky in their book Competitive
Authoritarianism: Hybrid Regimes After the Cold War.
Open societies where there is Societies where opposition Societies where there are no free
separation between the different parties are allowed to exist, but and fair elections, no separation
branches of government, suffer pervasive harassment and of state powers, no independent
elections are free and fair, and judicial persecution. media, no vibrant civil society,
civil liberties are respected. and no civil liberties.
8 9
BLOG POSTS
ORIGINAL RESEARCH & NOTES ON POLICY
ON RIGHTS
AND REGIMES January 2021
Is Saudi Arabia’s Kafala
February 2021
Protest Runway:
June 2021
Cult of Personality
December 2021
Igniting the Truth on
System Truly Reformed? The Use of Color & in Turkmenistan Transnational Repression
Fashion in Global
January 2021 Pro-Democracy August 2021 Igniting the Truth
HRF’s Center for Law and Democracy analyzes developments taking place in our countries of focus. Our research The Last Internet Movements Unraveling China’s Against Authoritarian
takes on a variety of forms, including blog posts, essays, and reports, which go on to guide HRF’s strategic approach Shutdowns Attempts to Hinder Sportswashing
to advocacy and programmatic work. March 2021 Academic Freedom:
February 2021 Is the End Near for Viktor Confucius Institutes Igniting the Truth on
Dictatorship Orbán? Corruption
Sows Division in
Nagorno-Karabakh April 2021
The Real Reformers
of Saudi Arabia
December 2021
VOICES SILENCED:
> Excerpt
T H E I M PACT O F
FOREIGN INVESTMENTS Truth Ignited: 2021 in Review Blog Series
ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Abdujelil Helil was a wealthy businessman from the and seized $11 million in his assets. Following a secret
IN L AOS
Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, located in trial in March 2021, the CCP further sentenced Helil for
northwestern China. He had earned praise from local “membership in a terrorist organization.”
REPORT Communist Party officials for his loyalty. However, he
FEBRUARY 2021 was also Uyghur. For several years now, under the guise Helil’s story is not unique. Since 2017, dozens of wealthy
of combating terrorism, the Chinese Communist Party Uyghur businessmen have been targeted by the Chinese
(CCP) has perpetuated a genocide against the Uyghurs, government. Their assets are stolen, auctioned off, and
forcing them into labor camps, destroying their cultural then … the assets disappear. They are laundered within a
sites, and forcibly sterilizing Uyghur women. In 2017, global system of financial corruption, and can re-emerge
Chinese government officials came for Helil, accused him as contemporary art, luxury sports cars, and penthouse
February 2021
Prepared by: August 2021
Human Rights Foundation
of financing terrorism, sentenced him to 14 years in prison, apartments. Stolen money linked to the Uyghur genocide
Center for Law and Democracy
can end up financing the lavish lifestyles of Chinese
Voices Silenced: The Impact of Foreign Investments 100 Years of Suppression: The CCP’s Strategies in Tibet,
350 Fifth Avenue, #4202
New York, NY 10118
hrf.org kleptocrats in London, Paris, and New York.
on Human Rights in Laos 1 the Uyghur Region, and Hong Kong
This system of global financial corruption is a grave
The Lao government’s desire to profit from development This report highlights the similarities between suppression
danger to human rights and democratic values.
projects has displaced thousands of communities. tactics implemented by the Chinese Communist
Corruption hampers economic opportunity, erodes trust
This report provides an overview of how irresponsible Party (CCP) in three focus regions: Tibet, the Uyghur
in institutions, corrodes the rule of law, and ultimately
foreign investment and corruption perpetrate human Region (Xinjiang), and Hong Kong. It also presents
encourages regime officials to steal from vulnerable
rights abuses, and urges both the government and policy recommendations that emphasize the urgency
populations, safe in the knowledge that their ill-gotten
stakeholders to adhere to their obligation to respect of implementing grassroots strategies and robust
gains can never be traced. Corruption is not exclusive
and uphold human rights. The report was later cited by multilateral initiatives to strategically counter the CCP’s
to dictatorships, but it is fundamentally exacerbated
the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization in authoritarian influence.
by authoritarianism. In countries where there are no
its April 2021 report.
independent judiciaries, free press, or free and fair
elections to hold leaders accountable for their crimes,
corruption thrives.
(Read more at hrf.org)
10 11
UNIVERSAL PERIODIC A Closer Look: Zimbabwe
REVIEWS In Zimbabwe, the regime wields power through
violence and intimidation. Arbitrary arrests, enforced
IMPACT HRF conducts advocacy work targeted at the UN and
disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings
are common tactics used by the government to
LITIGATION state governments on behalf of specific activists or
groups. One way we do this is by submitting Universal
quell dissent.
Periodic Reviews (UPRs) to the UN Human Rights Council. In July, HRF submitted a UPR to the UN, detailing
UPRs allow civil society groups to bring attention to the state of human rights in Zimbabwe. We
100% SUCCESS RATE IN human rights abuses by raising issues under international called on Zimbabwe’s government to respect the
PETITIONING THE UN ON covenants and conventions. individual rights of its citizens, and to strengthen
its commitment to gender equality by increasing
BEHALF OF ARBITRARILY To date, HRF has submitted 16 UPR contributions against access to legal and other support services for
survivors of gender-based violence.
various authoritarian regimes.
DETAINED DISSIDENTS. HRF
HAS PREVAILED IN EVERY
CASE FILED WITH THE UN.
A Closer Look: Keilylli De La Mora ANTI-CORRUPTION
On April 12, 2020, when Cuban pro-democracy INITIATIVE
There is no judicial independence in dictatorships activist Keilylli De La Mora briefly removed her face
because separation of powers does not exist, mask a few steps outside of her home, Cuban
which means that dissidents, journalists, and public
intellectuals can be arrested without charge, or
police arrested her on a newly-invented charge of
“spreading an epidemic.” She was beaten by the
HOLDING DICTATORS
imprisoned without a fair trial. HRF seeks to help these police, subjected to a show trial — during which ACCOUNTABLE FOR
individuals pursue justice through international semi- she was denied legal counsel — and sentenced to
judicial bodies. prison for contempt, resistance, and disobedience. THEIR CRIMES
While in prison, De La Mora was subjected to verbal
HRF’s Center for Law and Democracy submits emblem- and physical abuse. HRF documents the links between corruption and
atic cases of arbitrarily imprisoned dissidents to several authoritarianism, and submits evidentiary case files to
judicial and semi-judicial international bodies, such as After HRF submitted De La Mora’s case, the UNWGAD the US Departments of State and Treasury, under the
the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD). ruled that her arrest was arbitrary and in violation of Global Magnitsky Act. Passed in 2012, the Act allows
international law. The UNWGAD recommended that the president to revoke US visas and block US-based
Submissions to the UNWGAD exert pressure on the Cuban government provide De La Mora with property and interests of foreign individuals who have
authoritarian regimes to release arbitrarily-detained compensation and other reparations. committed, overseen, or financed serious human rights
prisoners, and HRF has helped achieve freedom for abuses or acts of corruption.
many activists. Since the start of this program, every Saudi Arabia
outcome on a received decision has been in our clients’
favor — explicitly stating that each case of detention “With this decision, Cuba must In July, HRF joined the Khashoggi Ban Working Group,
a civil society coalition that works in coordination with
was, indeed, arbitrary under international law. understand that, if it continues to
the US State Department to implement the Khashoggi
deprive its people of their most basic Ban, a new US policy which aims to sanction individuals
rights and freedoms, the international involved in transnational repression.
community will continue to work to hold
it accountable.”
Hong Kong
> HRF commentary on the UNWGAD opinion
In March, the US Treasury announced new sanctions on
Hong Kong officials, one of whom was included on the list
HRF submitted to the US Treasury.
13
122021 OSLO FREEDOM FORUM SPEAKERS
TRUTH IGNITED Uniting Our Community
Across Oceans
“This must be the first anti- For the first time ever, HRF hosted a
“When those in power are afraid of their own people,
simultaneous event in Oslo that ran parallel
dictatorship conference in Miami
where Cuba was just one of dozens
to the main forum. Our Norwegian community
gathered at the new Munch Museum to listen
democracy is within reach.”
of storylines. But if ever there was to in-person talks by Glacier Kwong and Filmon
> Tania Bruguera, 2021 Oslo Freedom Forum Speaker
Debru, watch a livestream of the theater talks at
a group of people in need of a the Oslo Freedom Forum in Miami, and discuss
break in Florida, it was this global strategies for promoting democracy and civil
collection of dissidents.” liberties across the globe.
> Politico
750 87 738 2B
ARTICLES MEDIA
ATTENDEES ACTIVISTS WRITTEN
ABOUT THE IMPRESSIONS
Glacier Kwong
FORUM
TANIA BRUGUERA LEOPOLDO LÓPEZ GLACIER KWONG STEVE JURVETSON WAI HNIN PWINT THON
Dissident Cuban Venezuelan Hong Kong political and American venture Burmese pro-democracy
installation and opposition leader digital rights activist capitalist activist
performance artist
The Oslo Freedom Forum (OFF) is a thriving global
community of activists united by a common vision
of making the world more peaceful, prosperous,
and free from tyranny. Since 2009, HRF has
cultivated a unique space for some of the world’s
leading human rights advocates, business
leaders, tech entrepreneurs, journalists, and
policymakers to share their stories and discuss AHMED ALBASHEER ALEXEY NAVALNY AKIDA PULAT HATICE CENGIZ FILMON DEBRU
ways to advance individual liberties and unleash Iraqi political satirist Founder of the Anti-Cor- Uyghur activist Fiancée of the late Eritrean human rights
ruption Foundation Saudi journalist Jamal activist and trafficking
human potential. Khashoggi survivor
The 2021 Oslo Freedom Forum, which took place
from October 4-5 at the New World Center in
Miami, Florida, celebrated the stories that spark
action across the globe in service of the truth.
Our 2021 theme, TRUTH IGNITED, highlighted the
voices of those who speak truth to power, ignite
movements, and fight for justice, while defying
ARTHUR DJ SWITCH ESSAM DAOD SVIATLANA BERTA VALLE
authoritarian regimes worldwide. HOLLAND MICHEL Nigerian artist Psychiatrist and TSIKHANOUSKAYA Journalist, pro-
Author and and #EndSARS co-founder of Leader of democracy activist,
surveillance expert movement activist Humanity Crew democratic Belarus and wife of Nicaraguan
Glacier kwong at the Oslo Freedom Forum presidential candidate
Félix Maradiaga
14 15INTERACTIVE
PROGRAMMING
GLOBAL ADVOCACY
The 2021 Oslo Freedom Forum featured a wide array of
& PUBLIC EDUCATION
interactive programming, including panel discussions
and fireside chats on the most pressing human rights
issues of 2021, hands-on workshops with thought leaders
and human rights experts, and spaces for networking
BELARUS
and creative problem-solving.
Abdalaziz Alhamza, DJ Switch, and Joe Smith lead a workshop
SOLIDARITY FUND
titled “Media and Mobilizations: How to Film Your Street Protests
Like an Expert.”
“The Oslo Freedom Forum will open
your eyes to the incredible network OVER $1 MILLION RAISED
of brave men and women working FOR THE PRO-DEMOCRACY
every day to fight against the most
oppressive states on earth, and MOVEMENT Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, leader of democratic Belarus, visits HRF’s
office in New York on July 27, 2021.
restore your faith in the indomitable
In August 2020, hundreds of thousands of Belarusians
human spirit.” Support for
took to the streets to protest Alexander Lukashenko’s
lawyers and
> Conference attendee 26-year dictatorship — in what became the biggest
legal aid Support for
pro-democracy movement in Belarus’ history. For
$65,000 independent
months, peaceful demonstrators endured the extreme journalists
Support for
violence of the regime, which used live ammunition,
repressed $230,000
Samuel Chu, Masih Alinejad, and Melanio Escobar speak on the torture, and rape to intimidate those calling for freedom protesters
“Fake News, Censorship, and Encryption” panel. and democracy.
$145,000
In response to the ruthlessness of the Lukashenko
“A SPECTACULAR HUMAN regime, HRF created the Belarus Solidarity Fund (BSF),
which provides direct support to pro-democracy
RIGHTS FESTIVAL” activists, independent journalists, and striking factory
Support for
activists
workers. We use our platform to raise awareness about
> The Economist $150,000
the struggle for democracy in Belarus, and to amplify the
voices of brave activists who risk their lives to protect civil
liberties in their country. BSF allows anyone, especially Support for striking
the Belarusian community in the United States, to factory workers
contribute to a transparent, reliable, and trusted entity $410,000
that charges no fees and efficiently distributes funds to
Thor Halvorssen and
activists in Belarus.
Hatice Cengiz on the
main stage.
Perspectives from the Belarusian Community
“If not for HRF, if not for this financial assistance,
I don’t even know what would have happened
to our family. Thank you to all the caring people
and the foundation!”
Screening of HRF’s new film Victor
THE DISSIDENT.
“Many thanks to HRF for the support of ordinary
Zachary Couglin and Scott Johnston host a
Belarusians!”
workshop titled “Submitting Cases Under the Sergey Belarusian activists gather at the
Global Magnitsky Act.”
2021 Oslo Freedom Forum in Miami.
16 17“Purveyors of popular culture
hold the power to spark
change.”
Akon > Céline Assaf-Boustani
& Garry Kasparov, Newsweek
International Ice Hockey
Federation
In January, HRF asked the International Ice
Hockey Federation to cancel the Ice Hockey World
CELEBRITIES Championships in Belarus, given the Lukashenko
& DICTATORS
regime’s brutal suppression of dissent. After a
sustained campaign by civil rights groups in
Belarus, the championships were canceled, and
HRF published a “Dissidents & Dictators” podcast During the 2021 American Music Awards ceremony, HRF drove
trucks through downtown Los Angeles, calling upon Justin Bieber
episode on the practice of “sportswashing.”
PRESSURING CELEBRITIES to cancel his upcoming performance for the Saudi dictatorship.
AND INFLUENTIAL
ORGANIZATIONS TO MTV Africa Music Awards
“You are a public figure with vast influence in the media… We urge you to use your platform
PRIORITIZE MORALS MTV Africa Music Awards: In February, HRF wrote to promote human rights in Saudi Arabia and contribute to a mission of promoting and
OVER MONEY letters to American music producer DJ Khaled protecting freedom globally.”
and CBS Viacom, urging them to cancel the
MTV Africa Music Awards in Uganda and make > Letter from HRF to Justin Bieber
In recent years, authoritarian regimes have taken a a statement in support of human rights and
particular interest in hosting celebrities to legitimize democracy in the country. In the wake of a rigged
their rule and whitewash their crimes. Performing for an election and massive government repression, the
authoritarian regime sends a message — intentional or festival was suspended.
not — that validates the dictatorship and its policies.
HRF’s Celebrities & Dictators program makes the struggle
for individual rights mainstream, by denouncing pop
culture figures who prop up dictators with performances FIFA World Cup Sponsors
and photo ops. The campaigns speak directly to the
celebrity or organization, asking them to reverse their FIFA World Cup Sponsors: HRF sent letters to
damaging publicity. several companies, including Adidas, Budweiser,
Coca Cola, McDonald’s, Visa, and Hyundai, all
In 2021, HRF sent 37 letters to individuals and organiza- of which are sponsors of the 2022 FIFA World Cup
tions, including Justin Bieber, the NBA, DJ Khaled, Akon, in Qatar. We urged them to use their influence to
the International Ice Hockey Federation, MTV, Adidas, press Qatar’s regime to end ongoing labor and
Budweiser, Coca Cola, McDonald’s, Visa, and Hyundai, human rights violations of the country’s migrant
among others, appealing to their global standing and workforce, which represents 90% of its population.
responsibility to promote justice and equality.
18 19Media Highlights
EMPTY BOX HRF SPOTLIGHT
CAMPAIGN January 29, 2021
What’s Happening in Xinjiang? Q&A with Uyghur
DICTATORS DON’T BELONG CCP DISRUPTION Activist Jewher Ilham
AT THE OLYMPICS. INITIATIVE
In May, HRF and the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights
& Justice (Lantos Foundation) launched the “Empty SHEDDING LIGHT ON
Box” Campaign, calling on the International Olympic
Committee (IOC) to deny heads of state from authoritarian
THE CCP’S 100 YEARS OF
regimes the opportunity to participate in the Opening REPRESSION
Ceremonies of the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games.
China is ruled by a fully authoritarian regime headed by
HRF and the Lantos Foundation wrote directly to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which maintains
Thomas Bach, President of the IOC, to request that boxes empty — a signal to the world that dictators do complete control over the country’s government, military,
the organization take a principled stand against not belong at the Opening Ceremonies of the world’s economy, judiciary, and educational system. Over March 18, 2021
authoritarianism and not invite or disinvite 15 of the premier sporting event. HRF CEO Thor Halvorssen and the past several decades, the CCP has unabashedly The last blow to Hong Kong’s faltering democracy
world’s most brutal dictators to the Games’ Opening Lantos Foundation President Katrina Lantos Swett attacked fundamental human rights in order to advance
Ceremonies, at which heads of state are traditionally also published an op-ed in USA Today entitled “Don’t its own political and ideological goals. From its mass
provided a place of honor in box seats. Instead, the let dictators grandstand with world leaders in Tokyo. crackdowns on civil liberties in Hong Kong, to increased
letter urged the IOC to leave their designated seating Reclaim Olympics values.” digital surveillance and censorship, to severe stifling of
freedoms in Tibet, to the Uyghur genocide, the CCP took
bold steps in 2021 to assert its authoritarian political
ideology and international influence.
HRF’s CCP Disruption Initiative was especially timely in
2021, as the year marked the 100th anniversary of the
party’s founding. We helped shed light on the CCP’s
state-sponsored repression by hosting events with
human rights activists and experts on China, undertaking
research on China’s authoritarian regime, and publishing
articles and op-eds. In December 2021, a representative
from HRF was invited to testify at a congressional hearing April 18, 2021
about China’s economic coercion. At the hearing, HRF China’s intimidation and endless pursuit of
presented domestic policy recommendations directly ideological compliance
to the US Congress, and emphasized the human rights
implications of the Chinese government’s weaponization
of economic clout.
20 21HRF POLICY NOTE THE DISSIDENT
July 1, 2021 August 4, 2021
Behind China’s grand facade lies deep insecurity Unraveling China’s Attempts to Hinder Academic
Freedom: Confucius Institutes 1,574,130,647 MEDIA
IMPRESSIONS IN 2021
THE DISSIDENT, a feature documentary film produced by targeted different groups, ranging from the general
HRF and directed by Academy Award-winning director public, to nonprofits, journalists, business leaders, and
Bryan Fogel, was released on-demand in January 2021. lawmakers. More than 10,000 people signed HRF’s
The film exposes the labyrinth of deceit behind petition urging the US Congress to pass specific
the high-profile murder of Saudi journalist legislation to impose sanctions and hold the
Jamal Khashoggi, and features never- Saudi regime accountable, including
before-seen surveillance footage requiring the Office of the Director of
and unprecedented access to National Intelligence to declassify
HRF REPORT a wealth of other damning the report on Khashoggi’s murder.
information.
August 6, 2021 At the end of January, the
October 1, 2021
100 Years of Suppression: The CCP’s Strategies in Although companies like Biden administration imposed
As China opens up, the CCP doubles down on
Tibet, the Uyghur Region, and Hong Kong Netflix and Amazon initially a temporary freeze on US
repression in Tibet and Xinjiang
refused to purchase and arms sales to Saudi Arabia,
distribute the film, out of fear and on February 25, the
of backlash from the Saudi Khashoggi report was officially
regime, THE DISSIDENT went declassified. These victories are
on to become an audience evidence of the powerful effect
favorite and reached a top-three that campaigns like ours can have
spot on iTunes in early 2021. to shine the spotlight on human rights
violations that regimes like Saudi Arabia
Simultaneously, HRF launched a global try so desperately to keep under wraps.
campaign calling for #JusticeForJamal, which
Bringing Awareness to the Uyghur Supporting Hongkongers Backlash from the Saudi Regime
Genocide
Shortly after its release, THE DISSIDENT caught the approval rating. The Washington Post published an
In April, HRF jointly produced a virtual event, “Genocide Since the passage of the draconian National Security
attention of the Saudi regime, which resorted to article on why THE DISSIDENT had become a new target
in the 21st Century: The Uyghur Crisis,” with student Law in 2020, Hong Kong’s pro-democracy cause has
attacking the film by flooding the popular film-rating of the infamous Saudi troll farm. Since then, many of the
organizations from Harvard University. Featuring needed support from the international community more
sites Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb with hundreds of fake negative reviews have been wiped, and the film
engaging panel discussions, this two-day event provided than ever. At RightsCon 2021, HRF hosted a lightning talk
negative reviews from fake accounts, dropping the film’s stands at 97% today on Rotten Tomatoes.
participants with a holistic and multi-dimensional and “Ask Me Anything” session, featuring Hong Kong
understanding of the Uyghur genocide. Speakers included political and digital activist Glacier Kwong. The talk and
Uyghur journalist and OFF speaker Gulchehra Hoja, the session underscored the striking impact that the National
World Uyghur Congress Program and Advocacy Manager Security Law has made on press freedom within Hong
Zumretay Arkin, Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent Kong, and provided recommendations for listeners on
for BuzzFeed News and former OFF speaker Megha how to help. At the 2021 Oslo Freedom Forum, HRF also
Rajagopalan, and Hong Kong activist and 2018 Nobel premiered a video that we created, featuring Hong Kong
Peace Prize nominee Alex Chow. Participants left the activist Nathan Law, as part of our “Lifelines” series.
event equipped with concrete ideas on how they can help
take a stand against these atrocities.
22 23Awards
2021 Writers Guild 2021 Irish Council for Nomination for 2021
Award Civil Liberties British Academy of
Documentary Human Rights Film Film and Television
Screenplay Arts Award
Award #JusticeForJamal Projections
Documentary
In January, HRF took THE DISSIDENT
campaign to New York and Washington,
DC, projecting audacious messages about
Jamal Khashoggi’s murder onto prominent
Twitter Highlights monuments and government buildings.
This was part of a broader push for US-
based businesses to stand up to Saudi
Arabia’s foreign influence. At the end of
January 2021, the Saudi regime hosted
“Davos in the Desert,” an annual high-
profile investment conference in the capital
city of Riyadh, attended by executives from
some of the most prominent companies
on Wall Street. HRF targeted companies
such as Goldman Sachs, KPMG, and
Credit Suisse that attended Davos,
projecting images of Khashoggi onto their
headquarter buildings. We called upon
companies to prioritize morals over money,
and stop doing business in dictatorships.
24 25FLASH DRIVES
FOR FREEDOM
ART ARTIST RESIDENCY
HRF’S FLASH DRIVES FOR
& CULTURE This year, HRF launched the Art in Protest Artist Residency
program, in collaboration with the Gray Area Foundation
for the Arts. The residency allows for artists-in-residence
to develop projects that use art and technology to
FREEDOM CAMPAIGN HAS Five Years of FDFF in Review create social and civic impact. In addition, artists receive
SHOWN 1 MILLION NORTH mentorship and personalized feedback on their work
KOREANS THAT ANOTHER 2016 HRF sends the first batch of ART IN PROTEST from interdisciplinary artists and technologists in the
Gray Area community, as well as workshop opportunities
flash drives into North Korea. that build on the mentorship they receive.
REALITY IS POSSIBLE.
SUPPORTING
North Korea, the most
March 2016 -
November 2018
The FDFF wall installation
tours conferences and
DISSIDENT ARTISTS
isolated country in the exhibitions across 13
world, continues to be ruled different countries, including
by a dynastic, totalitarian, the US, Norway, Taiwan, and
South Africa.
communist dictatorship. The “The Art in Protest Residency
vast majority of North Koreans
have no access to outside
program has been so valuable
information — no internet, no May 9, 2018 FDFF wins One Show Award to me! Through creative and
foreign postal mail, and no
ability to make phone calls
(Public Relations category).
professional development Badiucao
Exiled Chinese
Lilia Kvatsabaya
Belarusian illustrator and
abroad. Only government- sessions, I’ve been able to dissident artist graphic designer
sanctioned propaganda is
allowed, which allows Kim The Kim regime de- explore different directions in
September 5, 2018
Jong-un to prolong his brutal
nounces FDFF in Minju
Josun, a government
which art and activism can be
dictatorship. newspaper. presented, and learn how to
As of December 2021, HRF better articulate my message.”
has helped deliver 109,668
flash drives into North Korea, April 28, 2020 FDFF wins Webby Award > Lilia Kvatsabaya, HRF Artist-in-Residence
as part of our Flash Drives for “Best Cause-Related
Campaign.”
for Freedom (FDFF) program.
Our partners on-the-ground
Art in Protest is HRF’s answer to the repression of creativity
estimate that every flash drive
that authoritarian regimes impose on their people. By
is viewed by approximately October 12, 2020 FDFF wins W3 Award for
promoting artists who embody the spirit of creativity
10 North Koreans, who can “Best in Show - Activism
Website.” and dissent, Art in Protest opens up a dialogue about
learn about life outside
human rights and free expression, and aims to bring to a
North Korea through foreign
diverse audience the work of artists who are making an
films, Wikipedia pages, and
impact in the global struggle against authoritarianism.
news articles. The flash drives
December 2021 HRF reaches a milestone
prove that another reality of 100,000 drives deliv-
— one that is not marred by ered into North Korea,
state- sponsored violence, meaning 1 million North
repression, and surveillance — Koreans have accessed Badiucao’s art exhibit at the 2021 Oslo Freedom Forum
outside information. was filmed by CBS’s “60 Minutes.” The episode aired on
is possible. December 27, 2021.
26 27Badiucao x HRF Take Over Art Basel
To align with the 2021 Art Basel in Miami Beach, HRF
spearheaded a poster campaign with exiled Chinese
dissident artist Badiucao, featuring his Beijing 2022
Olympics collection, which condemns the CCP’s
repression of the Tibetan and Uyghur people, dismantling
of democracy in Hong Kong, omnipresent surveillance
systems, and lack of transparency surrounding the
COVID-19 pandemic. These artworks were posted in a
total of 46 locations across both Miami and Miami Beach.
The campaign aimed to raise awareness among the
global art community about the Chinese government’s
human rights abuses leading up to the 2022 Beijing
Winter Olympics.
Badiucao’s Beijing 2022 Olympics collection was initially
released at the New World Center’s Soundscape Park as Posters of Badiucao’s Beijing 2022 Olympics collection were
part of the 2021 Oslo Freedom Forum in Miami. posted across 46 locations in Miami.
“Arte en Resistencia” 3D virtual gallery features Cuban dissident artists from the San Isidro Movement.
Media Highlight
VIRTUAL GALLERIES
November 29, 2021
“Chinese Banksy” hits Miami
streets This year, Art in Protest launched a digital gallery
where visitors can view and purchase dissident artists’
work, including by Shamsia Hassani (Afghanistan),
Lilia Kvatsabaya (Belarus), Badiucao (China), the Gao
Brothers (China), Song Byeok (North Korea), Zehra Doğan
(Turkey), and Rodrigo Figueredo (Venezuela).
The digital gallery also features thematic exhibitions.
“In Pursuit of Freedom: A Collection of Global Protest
Ania Redko • Belarus Artem Loskutov • Russia Art” exposes the deception and social bankruptcy
of tyranny by featuring art inspired by major protest
movements since 2019 in countries under authoritarian
rule. Art in Protest’s first 3D virtual gallery, “Arte en
Resistencia,” reflects on art as a form of political
dissent in Cuba, where citizens took to the streets
in unprecedented numbers to demand justice and
democracy in July 2021.
Edo • Venezuela
28 29UNCOMFORTABLE
TRUTH
20% OF THE WORLD’S
COTTON GARMENTS +91,000 SOCIAL MEDIA
IMPRESSIONS
ARE LINKED TO UYGHUR
FORCED LABOR. +590,000 MEDIA COVERAGE
IMPRESSIONS
IT’S TIME FOR US TO WEAR Right now, more than one million Uyghur Muslims — an
OUR VALUES. ethnic minority in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous
Enes Kanter Freedom Region — are arbitrarily detained and working at forced
labor camps across China. This forced labor scheme is
part of a broader strategy perpetrated by the Chinese
government; it is a system of abuse that has unfolded
Awards
into what has been officially recognized as a genocide
by the US and other democracies.
In June, as part of our Wear Your Values program, HRF
initiated a campaign entitled “Uncomfortable Truth,” to
Art in Protest at the NBA 31 bring attention to the links between the apparel industry
and the Uyghur genocide in China. Mimicking a recent
2021 Luum Awards Applied Arts’ 2021
viral fashion marketing campaign by Yeezy x GAP, we
On October 20, 2021, Boston Celtics center and (Gold) Advertising Awards distributed posters across New York City with a picture
2018 Oslo Freedom Forum speaker Enes Kanter
Out of Home Series of a prison jumpsuit, like the ones worn by detained
Freedom kicked off the NBA season sporting a Human Rights
Uyghurs in China, and a QR code. The QR code directs to
pair of bold customized shoes – hand-painted Category PSA/Charity Series a website, where HRF highlights how the fashion industry
by Badiucao – emblazoned with the Tibetan flag
is complicit in forced labor in China.
and a clear message: “FREE TIBET.”
The Chinese government responded swiftly —
within minutes, the game was pulled from Ten-
cent, the NBA’s streaming partner in China, as
were all scheduled broadcasts of Boston Celtics
games. The Chinese foreign ministry even slan-
dered Kanter, calling him a “clout-chasing” ath-
lete who was hungry for attention.
Kanter, however, stood firm and continued to wear
customized shoes with human rights messages for
the following games, featuring statements about
the Uyghur crisis, forced labor, the Chinese dicta-
torship’s fragility, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. These
shoes garnered millions of impressions across so-
cial media, and have helped propel the struggle
for freedom into the global spotlight.
HRF’s “Uncomfortable Truth” poster campaign was
launched in several neighborhoods around New York City,
and was viewed by thousands of people across the city.
30 31TECH
& LIBERTY
CONNECTING
TECHNOLOGISTS
WITH ACTIVISTS John Scott-Railton and John Shaffer lead a virtual workshop titled
“Pegasus Spyware and Other Threats: What You Need to Know Now.”
HRF connects activists who live under dictatorships with HRF AND BITCOIN:
world-class technologists who can provide them with
the resources they need to protect their communications HELPING ACTIVISTS Dread, Farida Nabourema, Fodé Diop, and Roya Mahboob speak on a panel at the inaugural Bitcoin Academy.
and privacy, fight state surveillance, and use technology
to advance free expression and press freedom. The OBTAIN FINANCIAL Bitcoin Development Fund Oslo Freedom Forum Bitcoin Academy
2021 Oslo Freedom Forum featured workshops with
representatives from Twitter, Jigsaw, Yubico, and the FREEDOM HRF’s Bitcoin Development Fund supports software At the 2021 Oslo Freedom Forum, HRF hosted
Citizen Lab. developers who are making the Bitcoin network more the first-ever Bitcoin Academy, a full program of
Encrypted messaging and virtual private networks are
private, decentralized, and resilient, so that it can better presentations, workshops, and fireside chats with
well-known tools to human rights activists, but many
serve as a financial tool for human rights activists, civil world-renowned Bitcoin educators, coders, and
have yet to learn about the potential of Bitcoin as a
society organizations, and journalists around the world. entrepreneurs. Participants explored what Bitcoin
“The digital security training I received bulwark against financial repression. In many countries,
Since its creation in the spring of 2020, the Bitcoin is, how it can benefit activists’ causes, how to set up
from HRF has been useful in my daily the legacy financial system is censored, frozen,
Development Fund has awarded more than $900,000 a wallet, how to receive donations, how to transact
life and in my work as an activist. We surveilled, and slowed. Using cash can be dangerous,
to Bitcoin developers, designers, educators, and wallet instantly with the Lightning Network, how to secure
live in a time where the phone, social and receiving funds to bank accounts can be risky. More
creators working to improve the usability of Bitcoin for funds, and how to, when necessary, sell Bitcoin
networks, and other tools can serve our than 1.6 billion people live under double, triple, or even
human rights activists. As a result of our support: safely into fiat currency to fund human rights work
cause but also be a gateway to those quadruple digit inflation. In response, pro-democracy
or movements.
who want to undermine our struggle. organizations across the world – from Belarus to Nigeria, • Arabic HODL is translating Bitcoin content to make it
These trainings have not only allowed Russia, and Hong Kong – have used Bitcoin to raise more accessible to the 300+ million Arabic speakers
us to understand this new system, but millions of dollars in funds even after their bank accounts in the world.
also to protect ourselves against risk in were shut down.
• Journalist and Bitcoin privacy educator Janine
the digital space.” Roem is writing a Bitcoin privacy newsletter to
In 2021, HRF focused on providing direct support to educate the public on Bitcoin privacy best practices
> Fred Bauma human rights activists, funding the development of the and updates on privacy in the Bitcoin space.
Congolese pro-democracy leader Bitcoin network, and raising awareness on how to use
Bitcoin as a tool for financial freedom. • Bitcoin is becoming easier for human right activists
to use through tools like MuunWallet and BTCPay,
Why Bitcoin Matters for Human Rights which allow activists to painlessly fundraise and
store their Bitcoin.
• Bitcoin Core developers like Gloria Zhao, Calvin
Kim, Dhruv Mehta, and Abubakar Nur Khalil are
making the Bitcoin network itself more resilient and
decentralized.
Cannot be Cannot be Cannot be Cannot be Cannot be Can be
censored by devaluated by monopolized by easily mass stopped by accessed by
authorities governments corporations surveilled borders anyone
Elizabeth Stark and Alex Gladstein
host a workshop on the Bitcoin Lightning Network.
32 33PODCAST
PODCAST
Dissidents & Dictators Clubhouse andTwitter
Clubhouse and Twitter Spaces
Spaces Events
Events
BRINGING HUMAN
HUMANRIGHTS
RIGHTSISSUES
ISSUESTO
TO
60,000 LISTENERS
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discusspressing
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roomsbecame
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increasinglypopular
tooktotoClubhouse
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andTwitter
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hostaaregular
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andleaders
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tactics oftactics of repression
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of democracy in Nicaragua,
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world’s bravest activists, artists, policymakers, business leaders, and and tech-
members
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chimed in for chimed in forsessions.
our live Q&A our live Q&A sessions.
Select eventsSelect events were
were recorded andrecorded
publishedand published
as part of HRF’s
technologists.
nologists. Our podcast
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provides thosethose
who who risk their
risk their personal
personal safety
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as“Dissidents
part of HRF’s “Dissidents
& Dictators” & Dictators”
podcast podcast series.
series.
with a chance
chance to raisetoglobal
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awareness of human
of human rights rights
issues,issues, and
and the the
incredibly
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important work that work that isdone
is being beingto done to address
address them. them.
P L AY SAVE ... Episodes
PL AY SAVE ... Episodes
Labor and Human Rights The Future of An Invisible Threat: Press Adapting to the Rise of
Labor and in
Violations Human
QatarRights The Future of in Belarus
Democracy AnFreedom
Invisible and
Threat:
thePress
Dangers Adapting to the Rise
Authoritarianism
Violations in Qatar Democracy in Belarus Freedom and Dangers of
of Spyware of Authoritarianism
A conversation between Chief A discussion with democratic Spyware A conversation between Chief
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Football between
Writer for The Inde- A discussion with democratic
leader of Belarus Sviatlana A conversation featuring Saudi Authoritarianism
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Tsikhanouskaya, former US A conversation featuringOmar
activist and blogger Saudi globally – butMiguel
pendent one resilient
Delaney and
Independentjournalist
investigative Miguel Delaney
Pete Tsikhanouskaya,
Ambassador toformer RussiaUSMi- activist and blogger Omar
Abdulaziz, THE DISSIDENT’s country has learned
investigative how toPete
journalist
and investigative
Pattison about thejournalist
harmful Pete Ambassador
chael McFaul, to Russia Michael
Magnitsky Act Abdulaziz, THE DISSIDENT’s
award-winning director Bryan pushPattison
back. Inabout
this conversation
the harmful
Pattisson about
conditions the harmful
and human rights vi- McFaul, Magnitsky
architect Act architect
Bill Browder, and HRF award-winning director
Fogel, Al Jazeera Bryan
journalist withconditions
Taiwan’s Digital Minister
and human rights vi-
conditions
olations and migrant
facing human rights
workers BillChairman
Browder, and
GarryHRF Chairman
Kasparov on Fogel, Al Jazeera journalist
Ghada Oueiss, and Committee Audrey Tang,facing
olations learn how Taiwan
migrant is
workers
violations
in Qatar, infacing migrant
light of the 2022 FIFA Garry Kasparov on
the prospects ofthe prospects
democracy in Ghada Oueiss,
to Protect and Committee
Journalists Senior protecting itsin
in Qatar, young democracy
light of the 2022 FIFA
workers
World in Qatar,
Cup set to in
belight
heldofinthe
the ofBelarus.
democracy in Belarus. to Protect Journalists Senior
Africa Researcher Jonathan using transparency,
World Cup set toinnovation,
be held in the
2022 FIFA World Cup set to be
country. Africa Research
Rozen on howJonathan
spyware isRozen
used andcountry,
open governance.
held in the country. May
May7 /762
| 62min
min on to
how spyware is used to silence
silence dissidents and jour-
June 26 | 46 min dissidents
nalists. and journalists. February 23 / 23
February 26 |min
26 min
June 26 / 46 min
April 5 / 560| 60
April minmin
34 35
8 9You can also read
