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28-668: The prize is awarded annually by the Rafto Foundation for Human Rights ( Raftostiftelsen ) which was founded in the humanistic tradition of the Helsinki Accords in order to promote the fundamental human rights of intellectual and political freedom. Today, the foundation is based at the Human Rights House in Bergen , Norway . The major work of the foundation, including the organization of the award ceremony

56-618: A foundation to continue Rafto’s work promoting freedom of speech and political expression in Eastern Europe and to offer a prize for human rights activists. The fall of the Iron Curtain and consequential democratization of eastern European states caused the foundation to reconsider its work in other geographical regions to promote human rights. In 1990, the Rafto Prize was awarded to Aung San Suu Kyi who in 1991 received

84-776: A production of a documentary, “ On a tightrope ” (2006). In 2000 , Kim Dae-jung was awarded the Rafto Prize for his tireless fight for democracy and human rights in Korea . Since that time, the Rafto Foundation provides a significant contribution to the annual international conferences held in Bergen, Norway. The foundation supported also a production of a documentary film, “ YODOK Stories ” about Yodok concentration camp in North Korea . In 1999 , Gennady Grushevoy

112-552: A small team of professionals and volunteers. The major emphasis is made on the presentation of the Professor Thorolf Rafto Memorial Prize support of previous laureates as well as educational projects, informative events and lobby initiatives. In 2018, Ombudsman Adam Bodnar was awarded the Rafto Prize for his work defending minorities rights and judicial independence in Poland. In 2017 ,

140-468: Is done by a small team of professional staff and volunteers. The award ceremony takes place at Den Nationale Scene in Bergen annually in November. The initial idea of the Rafto Prize was to provide a basic informative platform for the laureates that would help to receive further attention from the international media and support from political and non-political organisations. By awarding the Rafto Prize,

168-591: The Nobel Peace Prize . Thorolf Rafto was a professor of Economic History at the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration (NHH). He was also well known for his political activism in Eastern Europe , especially in Hungary , Czechoslovakia and Poland . During a visit to Prague in 1979 to hold a lecture for students excluded from universities for political reasons. Rafto

196-558: The Nobel Peace Prize . The foundation was originally based at the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration. In 1997 it relocated to the Human Rights House of Bergen , established in memory of Thorolf Rafto’s son, journalist Egil Rafto (1951-1997) and officially opened in 1999 by Kim Aris , the youngest son of Burmese diplomat Aung San Suu Kyi and British historian Michael Aris . In August, 2008

224-459: The Norwegian School of Economics in Bergen , Norway . The Rafto Foundation for Human Rights was established in gratitude for his efforts and inspiration. Thorolf Rafto was born in Bergen , Norway . His father, Robert Rafto was an Olympic gymnast and the winner of the Norwegian decathlon championships in 1918. In his younger days Rafto competed on national level in athletics , and won

252-728: The Prague Spring of 1968. Later in his life, Rafto got, particularly, supportive of the liberal ideas of the Czechoslovak reformists such as Alexander Dubček and Jiří Hájek . In 1973, Rafto travelled to Odessa , where he witnessed the persecution of intellectuals and Soviet Jewish refuseniks , who had applied for emigration to Israel . On the return from the Soviet Union , Rafto wrote an article criticizing internal Soviet politics in Italy's Corriere della Sera , that later

280-485: The Rafto Prize , the Rafto Foundation for Human Rights seeks to bring attention to independent voices that due to oppressive and corrupt regimes are not always heard. In 1990, the Rafto Prize was awarded to a Burmese democratic leader, Aung San Suu Kyi who in the following year 1991 received the Nobel Peace Prize for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights. Four Rafto Laureates have subsequently received further international assistance and were awarded

308-478: The Iron Curtain and consequential democratization of Eastern European states led to a reconsideration the mission of the foundation. Meanwhile it had opened new possibilities to work with other geographical regions in a promotion of human rights. Already in 1990, the Rafto Prize was awarded to a Burmese democratic leader, Aung San Suu Kyi who, in the following year 1991, received the Nobel Peace Prize for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights. For

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336-845: The Kurdish Parliamentarian, became the Rafto Prize laureate for her struggle for the human rights of the Kurdish people in Turkey and the neighbouring countries. In her struggle for freedom, Leyla Zana has become a symbol of a peaceful resolution to the Kurdish conflict in Turkey. The Rafto Foundation took an active role in establishing the EU Turkey Civic Commission and series of conferences in Brussels , on

364-658: The Kurdish minority rights. In 1990 , Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Rafto Prize for her peaceful struggle under a military dictatorship. Since 1990 Burma has become one of the main follow-up projects of the Rafto Foundation, which worked with the Burmese community in Norway to set up the Norwegian Burma Committee, which is based in Oslo and operates independently of the Rafto Foundation. Thorolf Rafto

392-635: The Norwegian championships in decathlon in 1947. During World War II , Thorolf Rafto fled to Britain and served with the Royal Norwegian Air Force . Back in Bergen after the war, he earned university degrees in Languages and History. In 1950, at the age of 28, Rafto married Helga Hatletvedt with whom, he had four children. In 1956, Thorolf Rafto became a lecturer at the Norwegian School of Economics in Bergen . His involvement in political activism in Eastern Europe started with

420-589: The Norwegian government, academics, supporters and partners of the Rafto Foundation and family members of the Rafto family. The annual deadline for nominations is 1 April. Voluntary organisations, institutions and individuals worldwide, with knowledge or interest in human rights are allowed to nominate candidates for the Rafto Prize. Former recipients of the prize can also nominate candidates, although candidates who are nominated by themselves or by their staff or by honorary officers will not be taken into consideration. After

448-452: The Rafto Foundation for Human Rights seeks to bring attention to independent voices that due to oppressive and corruptive regimes are not always heard. For example, four Rafto Laureates have subsequently received further international assistance and were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize . Aung San Suu Kyi , José Ramos-Horta , Kim Dae-jung and Shirin Ebadi were awarded the Rafto Prize prior to

476-405: The Rafto Foundation is the promotion of freedom of political expression and enterprise. The work of the foundation consists of different educational and informative projects, including the annual award of the Rafto Prize ( Raftoprisen ) each November. The foundation is based in Bergen , Norway and run by a small team of professionals and volunteers. The work of the Rafto Foundation is done by

504-723: The Rafto Foundation organised an exhibition and a roundtable on Poverty and Human Rights (with the example of Dalits ) for the Summer Research School of the University of Bergen . Among the invited speakers were the representatives of the 2007 Rafto Prize laureate, the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights . Thorolf Rafto Thorolf Rafto (July 6, 1922 – November 4, 1986) was a human rights activist and professor in Economic History at

532-728: The Rafto Prize was awarded to Parveena Ahangar of Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) and Lawyer Mr Parvez Imroz of Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society , recognizing their work to document and defend the rights of victims of enforced disappearances and other human rights violences in the Indian-administered region of Kashmir. In 2016 , the prize was awarded Yanar Muhammed , Chairperson of Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq (OWFI), working to promote women's rights generally, and especially to provide shelter and protection for women left vulnerable during

560-557: The armed conflict going on in Iraq since 2003, and also motivated by the patriarchal norms of family honor prevalent in the region. In 2004 , Rebiya Kadeer was awarded the Rafto Prize for her efforts to bring to the end social and economic marginalisation of the Uyghur people of Xinjiang . In a promotion of the human rights of the Uyghur people, the Rafto Foundation published a book, “In Our World of Good and Evil”, (2006) and assisted in

588-468: The consequential democratization of Eastern European states caused reconsider of the mission of the foundation. It also opened new possibilities to work with other geographical regions in a promotion of human rights. The initial idea of the Rafto Prize is to provide a basic informative platform for the laureates that would help to receive further attention from the international media and support from political and non-political organisations. By awarding

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616-499: The deadline, all applications are carefully considered by the prize committee and the final decision is usually released at the press conference at Rafto House in September. Rafto Foundation for Human Rights The Rafto Foundation for Human Rights was established in 1986 in memory of Thorolf Rafto , a professor of economic history at the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) and a human rights activist. The main objective of

644-483: The death of Thorolf Rafto, his friends and colleagues agreed to establish the Rafto Foundation for Human Rights ( Raftostiftelsen ) which would continue Rafto’s work on a promotion of freedom of speech and political expression in Eastern Europe . It was also decided to introduce the Thorolf Rafto Memorial Prize ( Raftoprisen ) for human right activists. The fall of the Iron Curtain and

672-499: The first years, the foundation was based at the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration . From 1997, the Rafto Foundation was relocated to the Human Rights House of Bergen , Norway. The Rafto Prize is awarded annually on the first Sunday in November and since 1990, the official ceremony takes place at the National Theatre of Bergen . Among the invited guests are representatives from Bergen municipality and

700-422: Was arrested and beaten by the communist security police which may have resulted in injuries which weakened his health. On 4 November 1986 Thorolf Rafto died. His friends and colleagues agreed to establish a foundation that would continue Rafto's work such as promotion of freedom of speech and political expression in Eastern Europe . It was also decided to introduce a prize for human right activists. The fall of

728-566: Was awarded the Rafto Prize for his brave work for democracy and human rights under the Lukashenko dictatorship in Belarus. Together with the Norwegian film company Piraya Film , a documentary film, “ Belarusian Waltz ”, was released in 2007. The film tells the incredible story of a Belurussian painter and performance artist, Alexander Pushkin, and his brave challenges to President Lukashenko ’s authoritarian regime. In 1994 , Leyla Zana ,

756-469: Was politically active in Eastern Europe , especially in Hungary , the Czech Republic and Poland . During a visit to Prague in 1979 to hold a lecture for students excluded from universities for political reasons, Rafto was arrested and severely beaten by the communist security police causing injuries which weakened his health. After he died on 4 November 1986, friends and colleagues established

784-512: Was published in Norway and Denmark . In 1979, Rafto traveled again to Prague to hold a lecture for students excluded from the universities for political reasons. He was abused and later imprisoned by the security police which may have caused him lasting health damage. In 1981, Rafto made several trips to Poland to work closer with labour organisations there. By 1985 his health was weakening. In 1986, Thorolf Rafto died at 64 years of age. After

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