The Rafto Foundation for Human Rights was established in 1986 to commemorate the late Professor Thorolf Rafto (1922-1986), and to carry on his life-long work to protect human rights. The Rafto Prize has been awarded every year since 1987.
Thorolf Rafto made sure “birds could fly”
Thorolf Rafto had his own way of saying it: “Caged birds sing of freedom, free birds fly”. He did not stand by and watch injustice, but made it his business to make sure the birds could fly.
That might be why he made such a great impact on people, not just talking about – but acting. In many ways he has, after his death, become a symbol on how important it is to spread the knowledge about human rights, and how important it is to work together to free the caged birds.
When reading about Thorolf Rafto, it is almost impossible not to notice the great care he had for his students. His commitment was recognized and appreciated.
In 1991, five years after his death, a group of students formed the very first Rafto student group to honour the memory of Thorolf Rafto. The student group rapidly became an important asset to the Rafto Foundation. Amongst other, the group contribute with the organizing of the press conference, prize ceremony and the symposium.
Reason of the initiative
Fortunately, there is no such thing as a typical human rights volunteer. The Rafto student group and its members are the living proof of that. The group is showing that diversity can be strength, and that it is possible to cooperate despite differences, and to accomplish great achievements.
The Rafto Alumni has been created for several rea
sons. The most obvious is that after leaving the Rafto student group, the former members often loose touch with each other. School, work and family might lead to moving away from Bergen, or even the country. For the ones who remain in Bergen, it might as well be difficult to stay in touch when everyday life takes over. The Rafto Alumni is trying to create an opportunity for people to meet up again and to share old memories and stories.
Gathering all these people who have, at some point, showed an interest in human rights, hopefully will create an atmosphere where new energy and interest is being put into the human rights issues – completely in line with the spirit of Thorolf Rafto.
Thorolf Rafto’s followers
Every year during the Rafto Prize events we learn that there are other people like Thorolf Rafto out there; strong people with a vision on letting the caged birds out.
In 2001, Shirin Ebadi received the Rafto Prize. Her daughter accompanied her to Bergen, surprising everyone by not being submissive or intimidated, but rather free-spoken and opinionated.
In 2002, Sidi Mohammed Daddach from Western Sahara, a man who had been a political prisoner for 24 years, was the Rafto laureate. He was accompanied by one of his friends, and proved to be a silent man
with a strong commitment and a gleam of laughter in his eyes. The Rafto Foundation was able to bring Daddach’s mother to Bergen during the prize ceremony weekend, and mother and son met for the first time since 1975, knowing that they might not ever meet again.
When Rebiya Kadeer (left), a prominent symbol of the Uyghurs’ struggle for basic human rights and a prisoner of conscience at that time, was awarded the prize in 2004, a powerful and touching greeting from her daughter and husband (living in exile in US) was delivered through the internet and a web camera during the prize ceremony at the National Venue of Theatre in Bergen.
Join the Rafto Alumni group and share your experiences!
The Rafto Prize has affected the people receiving it, but it has also affected all of hose working with it for a longer or shorter period of time. Many of these 
people carry memories that will remain for as long as they live.
The Rafto Alumni group says it does not know what the future brings, or what the role of the Alumni will be. It is however important to give former members a place to meet. And it is important not to let the message of Thorolf Rafto fade away: “Caged birds sing of freedom, free birds fly”.
The initiative group calls former members of the Rafto Foundation’s student group to contact Maja Brix at 48 33 08 86 or majabrix(at)yahoo.no
The group can be found on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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