Our Work
These are our main activities
The Rafto Prize
The Rafto Prize sheds light on human rights violations and gives honor to human rights defenders who deserve the world's attention. With the annual award, we want to strengthen the laureates' influence in their human rights work. The prize is also a start of a long-term collaboration where we can contribute to international awareness, emergency aid, or collaborative projects.
Human Rights Defenders
The Rafto Foundation provides support for human rights defenders and helps to promote their work locally and internationally. Women are a particularly vulnerable group among human rights defenders. Through a network of women human rights defenders and grassroots activists from the Middle East, Southeast Asia and North Africa, we have facilitated the establishment of local projects that address various challenges and threats that women are particularly exposed to.
Human Rights and Democracy Education
The Rafto Foundation is one of seven National Peace- and Human Rights Centers in Norway and offers human rights education to students in Western Norway. Through our expertise in history, didactics and social studies, our teachers are an important resource for teachers on topics such as democratic citizenship, sustainability and human rights.
Business and Human Rights
The Business and Human Rights Program focuses on the corporate responsibility to respect human rights, and our activities are directed towards both authorities, business actors and human rights defenders. The work builds on international standards such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Courses and seminars:
- Masters Course in Business and Human Rights
- Thorolf Rafto Challenge
- Coalition for Dignity in the Built Environment
Collaborations: