From March 11 to March 14, HRF will participate in the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas to engage the creatives in one of the world's largest communities with the struggle for human rights. From Sunday to Wednesday HRF is hosting exhibits, workshops, and panels where you can hear from (and collaborate with) prominent activists and tech experts to help advance freedom across the world.
The Freedom Collection at the SXSW trade show
Sunday, March 11 – Wednesday, March 14
HRF is teaming up with the fashion company DEAR LEADER to present The Freedom Collection, a new line of sunglasses designed for nine Oslo Freedom Forum speakers. Visit us at booth #845 on the trade show floor to try on a pair and meet some of the activists who inspired the new designs. $20 from each purchase will support a charitable organization of that activist’s choice, ranging from helping women to drive in Saudi Arabia to sending outside information into North Korea.
Everyday Ways to Fight Oppression
Monday March 12, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Repressive regimes use many tools to hold power, but today people everywhere are fighting back with ordinary actions. The panelists — Saudi women’s rights activist Manal al-Sharif, Pakistani squash star Maria Toorpakai Wazir, and anti-FGM advocate Leyla Hussein — have remarkable stories about how they have advanced human rights in the toughest environments. The discussion, moderated by HRF president Thor Halvorssen, will show that anyone can make an impact in the struggle for freedom.
Following the panel, Manal al-Sharif and Maria Toorpakai Wazir will sign copies of their books, “Daring to Drive” and "A Different Kind of Daughter."
How Technology Can Save the Yazidi Community
Monday, March 12, 3:30 – 6 p.m.
Join Yazidi activist Deelan Dakhil for a hands-on workshop to envision and plan a digital platform to memorialize the sacrifice and struggle of the Yazidi people. The Yazidis are a minority group that has been singled out for persecution by ISIS, but whose struggles rarely make the headlines. We are inviting individuals who are passionate about building solutions for good to help the Yazidi community document atrocities and preserve victim testimonies so that their memory never fades.
This panel is hosted by HRF and Elefint Designs. To learn more about the Yazidis, watch this Oslo Freedom Forum talk given by Deelan’s sister, Iraqi parliamentarian Vian Dakhil. RSVP on Facebook. here add this workshop to your SXSW favorites here.
Oslo Freedom Breakfast
Wednesday March 14, 8:30 – 10 a.m.
Impact investors know all about cleantech, edtech, and healthtech. What about demtech? Learn how investors can do well and also boost democracy and civil liberties at a breakfast discussion hosted by the City of Oslo and the Oslo Freedom Forum at the House of Scandinavia (340 East 2nd Street). Speakers include Oslo's Vice Mayor for Business and leaders from ConsenSys and Diwala. To RSVP, please click here.
Blockchain and Civil Liberties
Wednesday March 14, 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Blockchain technologies hold enormous implications for free expression, privacy, governance, journalism, property rights, and more. But technology is agnostic; it can yield incredible opportunities as well as negative consequences. Join HRF and members of the cryptocurrency hedgefund Crypto Lotus and faculty from Singularity University for an interactive workshop on harnessing the blockchain to advance personal and political freedoms. Add this workshop to your SXSW favorites here.
Masterclass: How Film Can Advance Human Rights
Wednesday March 14, 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
How can filmmakers get involved in the struggle for human rights? Panelists from HRF, the Moving Picture Institute, and Smock Media will explore how film can raise awareness, build empathy, explore provocative subjects, and urge action. This event features a screening of short documentaries from Smock Media’s Witness project and short videos from its campaigns for the Human Rights Foundation.
The screening takes place at Austin’s Violet Crown Theater at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 14. Tickets available here.