Human Rights:
Between Effectiveness and
Counterproductivity
Monday 24. November / kl 18.00
Litteraturhuset Wergelandsveien 29, Oslo
A frank, solutions-oriented conversation about the future of human rights advocacy: credibility, impartiality, and how to rebuild public trust without losing moral clarity.
Moderator: Moderator: Hadi Strømmen Lile
PhD from The Norwegian Center
for Human Rights
Danielle Haas (Former Senior Editor of Human Rights Watch )
Jan Egeland (Norwegian Refugee Council)
Yariv Mohar (Founder, The Pro Human Campaign. formerly Amnesty Israel )
Dr. Erik Fosse (Norwac)
More to be announced
Human Rights in Times of War: Politics, Trust, and Polarization after October 7
Human rights and humanitarian organizations have long been regarded as guardians of universal values. Yet in recent years, many of them have faced growing public scrutiny — accused of bias, inconsistency, or selective engagement. The war between Israel and Hamas has further exposed how difficult it is to maintain moral authority and public trust in an age of polarization.
This conversation brings together voices from the human rights and aid sectors to reflect on these challenges. How do organizations navigate political and ethical pressures while remaining credible defenders of civilian rights on all sides of a conflict?
And could a renewed commitment to universality and integrity strengthen the impact of human rights work in times of war?
Danielle Haas
Danielle Haas is a journalist and human rights expert who served as Senior Editor at Human Rights Watch from 2010 to 2023. She previously worked as a correspondent covering the Israel–Palestine conflict and international affairs.
In recent years, Haas has become a leading voice calling for reform within the human rights sector, arguing that it has lost neutrality and credibility. She advocates for a renewed approach—Human Rights 2.0—grounded in universalism, equality, and accountability. Her perspective offers a rare insider view into how human rights advocacy can regain trust and relevance
Yariv Mohar
Yariv Mohar is an Israeli sociologist and human rights expert who serves as Director of the Pro-Human Campaign, an international initiative working to restore universalism and moral consistency in human rights advocacy. He previously served as Deputy Director of Amnesty International Israel and co-founded the Initiative for National Security and Human Rights. With a background in both academia and activism, Mohar has become a leading voice challenging selective outrage and ideological bias within the human rights community. In his recent writings, he argues for a rights discourse that balances compassion with realism, defending civilians on all sides while rejecting dehumanization. His work calls for a reinvention of human rights as a truly universal and solution-oriented practice—one that recognizes both security needs and the pursuit of dignity for all.
Jan Egeland
Jan Egeland is a Norwegian diplomat and humanitarian leader currently serving as Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). With a long career at the intersection of diplomacy and human rights, he previously held key roles at the United Nations, including Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. Egeland has mediated peace processes in Central America, the Middle East, and Africa, and is recognized as one of the leading international advocates for the protection of civilians in armed conflict. He continues to be a central voice in global humanitarian policy, calling for accountability, impartiality, and renewed moral clarity in international aid and human rights work.
Dr. Erik Fosse
Dr. Erik Fosse is a Norwegian surgeon, professor, and humanitarian known for his extensive medical work in conflict zones, including Gaza, Afghanistan, and Lebanon. He co-founded and directs NORWAC (Norwegian Aid Committee), an organization providing medical aid and training in areas affected by war and crisis. Fosse has served as chief physician at Oslo University Hospital and professor at the University of Oslo, combining clinical practice with advocacy for civilian protection and ethical responsibility in warfare. His firsthand experience from Gaza and other conflict areas has made him a respected and sometimes controversial voice in Norwegian public debate. Through both his medical and academic work, Fosse emphasizes the human cost of war and the duty of the international community to uphold humanitarian principles beyond politics.