Thor Halvorssen is a human rights advocate and film producer. Described by The New York Times as “a champion of the underdog and the powerless," he founded the New York-based Human Rights Foundation which is devoted to liberating political prisoners and to promoting civil and political rights around the world. Since its founding, HRF has secured the release of seven prisoners of conscience; provided evidence to Truth Commissions; submitted amicus briefs in major international human rights cases, and published two books on individual rights and responsibilities of the state. Mr. Halvorssen is founder and CEO of the Oslo Freedom Forum, an annual global gathering described by The Economist as a “spectacular human-rights festival... on its way to becoming a human-rights equivalent of the Davos economic forum.” He is the Patron of the Prague-based Children’s Peace Movement; On Own Feet.
