Solveig Moldrheim Head of Education in the Rafto Foundation for Human Rights
In your opinion, what is the best way to define human rights? Human rights are on one side tools for us all to fight for a dignified life, for equal dignity for all. On the other side, they are standards for governments and ought to be so for business as well.
How do you engage young people in human rights topics? You have to reach both heart and head, and of the two —the heart is most important if you want change and commitment. That’s the first step. Next step is to make people believe that they can contribute to change, and to be able to believe that, a person needs to see themselves as someone who cares.
How are human rights relevant in ‘Global North’ countries like Norway? Human rights and democracy are not stuff that you have or don’t have. I like to see these as processes that need to be continuously maintained, secured and evolved. Human rights are a universal issue that should not be stopped by borders; there are people all over the world that need our support, recognition and solidarity. We should see ourselves as one humanity, not like ‘us’ and ‘them.’
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A First Glance at the Matter