We have seen time and again that when faced with repression by authoritarian regimes, seemingly ordinary individuals step up to become champions of change in their communities and in the world. While governments and multilateral organizations are often slow to react to international crises, these individuals leap into action — sometimes at great personal risk — to protect freedom, expose corruption, and reform unjust systems.

Our theme for the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum (OFF), “Champion of Change,” celebrated both activists, who are themselves champions, and their causes. This theme represented a strong, scalable call to action, inviting our community to act and advocate on behalf of activists and unite in the common cause of promoting freedom and human rights. At OFF, we realize that everyone has the potential to effect change, either as a champion on an individual level or as part of a larger movement.

From May 23-25, 2022, the speaker lineup included Tibetan activist and community organizer Chemi Llamo, Tanzanian lawyer and human rights advocate Fatma Karume, Head of the Center for Civil Liberties in Ukraine Oleksandra Matviichuk, and more.