Master's students in Human rights and Multiculturalism are involved in a new campaign in solidarity with the Uyghurs in East Turkistan.
It was launched during this year's «Human Rights Advocacy Day» on the Drammen campus on 18 September.
Arathana Kunalan (Arendal/Sri Lanka) and Christian Frogley (USA) believe that it is not enough to sit in an “ivory tower” and discuss theories.
‘Many academics write about how the world can be fixed, but they are not out in the field. We try to combine theory with practice,’ says Christian.
Through internships with the organisation Scholars at Risk at USN, the students have developed projects that target both academic environments and ordinary people.
Among other things, they have helped write an anti-racist appeal that was read aloud during the event, and they have developed an educational game that will live on after they have finished their studies.
‘We want to create something that can be used by others, that is not just about one issue, but about oppressive structures and systems.’
Human Rights Advocacy Day
- Part of Democracy Days at USN, organised during Research Days.
- Also marks the UN's International Day of Democracy, which was on 15 September.
- In 2007, the UN General Assembly decided to mark a special day for democracy to show support for new or re-established democracies.
- Organised by SAR AdvocacyUSN, Human Rights and Diversities ResearchGroup and USN's strategic research area Democracy, social organisation and governance
- The event was coordinated by Associate Professors Gabriela Mezzanotti, Åsne Håndlykken-Luz, Aynur Özugurlu, and the SAR USN Advocacy team Hadiza Soumeiga, Sayed Amir Hashimi, Natalia Kniazeva, Pedram Fayazian, Arathana Kunalan, Christian Frogley, Stacey Katlene Kebera Estrela, Md Fakhrul Islam, Yeukai Esnath Gezah, and Hussain Alkilani Alkadri.
The murder of Tamima Nibras Juhar
The murder of Tamima Nibras Juhar has made a strong impression on all master's students in human rights and multiculturalism. The 34-year-old woman with a minority background was killed while working the night shift at an institution in Kampen, Oslo.
‘It was a shock, especially because it happened in Norway. Many people do not associate Norway with right-wing extremist violence, but this shows that we are not immune,’ says Christian.
The appeal read out during the event states, among other things, that the murder was ideologically motivated and announced in advance, but that no preventive measures were taken. Tamima's murder is therefore seen as part of a long-standing and systemic violence against minorities in Norway.
The text also emphasises the need to resist anti-migration movements in Europe and the US, and to take action against the genocide in Gaza.
Arathana also points to everyday racism that often goes unnoticed.
‘People think there is no racism in Norway, but it happens all the time. Like when someone doesn't want to sit next to you on the bus, or when shop employees are harassed. If it doesn't get media attention, people think it doesn't happen.’
An education that provides more than knowledge
Both agree that the master's programme gives them more than academic insight – it gives them tools to navigate a complex world.
‘We don't just learn about theories, but about how to meet people, how to talk to them, and how to be professional even when we are emotionally involved.’
It's a balance," say Arathana and Christian.
‘If we are going to work in non-profit organisations after our studies, we need to be committed, but also balanced enough not to damage relationships or projects. That's an important lesson for those of us who want to work with human rights.’
Campaigning for the Uyghurs
This year's Human Rights Advocacy Day focused in particular on the situation of the Uyghurs, who are subjected to widespread oppression and persecution by the Chinese authorities.
Students at USN's one-year programme in music, culture and diversity had spent three weeks working on two songs that addressed the situation of the Uyghurs and other issues relevant to this day. The music students played a set of seven songs.
Arathana and Christian spoke about Professor Ilham Tohti, a Uyghur economist and former university lecturer in Beijing. Among the guests was Adiljan Abdurihim, a Uyghur human rights activist and coordinator of the Uyghur Transitional Justice Database.
Abdurihim has documented abuses against Uyghurs and works to ensure justice through the archiving of testimonies and international cooperation.
Scolars at Risk Student Advocacy at USN is now launching two concrete measures to support Professor Ilham Tohti and other Uyghur academics:
- Petition campaign: An international signature campaign with the goal of collecting 1,000 signatures by the end of the year. The aim is to draw attention to arbitrary imprisonment and human rights violations.
- Interactive learning platform: A new tool for human rights education, developed to strengthen legal awareness and critical reflection. The platform will give users insight into how rights violations are experienced in practice and encourage active engagement.
Vice-Rector: ‘Democracy cannot be taken for granted’
‘We cannot take democracy for granted. The polarisation of public debate, the spread of misinformation and the rise of populist movements remind us that democracy is fragile,’ said Vice-Rector Stephan Hamberg in his opening speech.
Read the entire speech here
Dear colleagues, students, and guests,
It is a great honor and a personal privilege to open this year’s Democracy Days here at the University of South-Eastern Norway.
When we gather like this, we are reminded that a university is not only a place for lectures, exams, and research. It is also, and perhaps most importantly, a meeting place for ideas. Ideas that challenge us. Ideas that inspire us. Ideas that sometimes make us uncomfortable.
We live in times where this role is more urgent than ever. Around the world, we see increasing pressure on academic freedom, freedom of expression, and on democracy itself. These values, which many of us once thought of as secure, are being questioned, eroded, and in some places, openly attacked.
And it is not only far away. Here in Europe, in the Nordic countries, even in Norway, we cannot take democracy for granted. The polarization of public debate, the spread of misinformation, and the rise of populist movements remind us that democracy is fragile. It requires care. It requires effort. It requires us.
That is why events like Democracy Days matter so much. They are not simply academic exercises. They are statements of who we are, and what we stand for. By gathering here, by creating space for dialogue, for reflection, and for critical thinking, we reaffirm our role as a university committed to the values that make democracy possible.
Let me say a few words about what that role means.
First, academic freedom. Universities cannot serve society if we are not free to ask difficult questions, to pursue knowledge wherever it leads, even when the answers are inconvenient or unpopular. Academic freedom is not a privilege for professors; it is the foundation that allows all of us—staff, students, and society at large—to trust that knowledge is produced independently and with integrity.
Second, freedom of expression. As a university, we must not only protect the right to speak, but also the right to disagree. And here lies a difficult truth: defending freedom of speech does not only mean defending the voices we like, the voices we agree with, or the voices that make us feel comfortable. It also means defending speech that challenges us, speech that even offends us.
But, and this is equally important, defending speech is not the same as being silent in the face of it. Our role as a university is not to censor, but to respond. To meet speech we disagree with—not with bans or boycotts—but with knowledge, with research, with better arguments. That is the essence of democracy: not the absence of disagreement, but the presence of dialogue.
And this is where our students play a vital role. Democracy is not sustained by institutions alone. It is sustained by participation—by young people who care, who speak up, who are willing to engage. I am deeply encouraged to see so many students contributing to this year’s program. You remind us that democracy is not inherited; it is built anew by every generation.
I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the organisers of todays event. Your hard work and dedication have made this possible. Creating such a diverse and thought-provoking program is no small task, and we are grateful for the effort you have invested.
And I want to especially thank the students. Your voices, your creativity, and your courage are at the heart of this event. By leading workshops, by engaging in debate, by showing up—you embody the very principles we are here to defend. You show us that democracy is alive, not abstract. It is lived, it is practiced, and it is defended—every day.
Democracy Days also remind us that the challenges we face are global. Today’s program touches on issues ranging from the situation of the Uyghurs in East Turkistan, to questions of racism, populism, and human rights here in Norway. These are not isolated topics. They are part of a larger story of how power is exercised, how voices are silenced, and how freedom can be protected—or lost.
As a university, our responsibility is to bring knowledge into these discussions. Knowledge that is rigorous, independent, and critical. But also knowledge that is shared, that empowers citizens to think, to question, and to act.
Some might ask: what difference can a university really make? Can lectures and research really stand against populism, authoritarianism, or oppression?
My answer is: yes. Not alone, of course. But history shows us that democracies fail not only because of the strength of their opponents, but because of the silence of their defenders. When universities withdraw, when we stop asking questions, when we stop speaking up—that is when democracy is truly at risk.
So, by arranging Democracy Days, we are not just hosting an event. We are fulfilling our mission. We are saying clearly: knowledge matters. Dialogue matters. Democracy matters.
Let me end with this thought: democracy is often described as fragile, and in many ways, it is. But it is also resilient—if we care for it, if we practice it, if we defend it. And each of us, whether as a researcher, a teacher, a student, or a citizen, has a role to play in that defense.
I hope that the conversations we begin here today will not end when the event is over. I hope they will continue in our classrooms, in our research projects, in our communities, and in our daily lives. Because democracy is not defended in grand speeches alone. It is defended in the choices we make every day—to listen, to speak, to learn, and to act.
Thank you once again to the organisers, thank you to the students, and thank you to all of you for being here today.
I look forward to the discussions and reflections this day will bring.
Welcome to Democracy Days.