Can human rights survive the new geopolitics?
Advertisement
How do shifting global power dynamics affect human rights norms and institutions, and what role can development assistance and key stakeholders play in a changed geopolitical climate?
Register here: https://www.uio.no/english/research/domus-bibliotheca/events/2026/human-rights-geopolitics/#join
Participation is free of charge.
What is the event about?
Intensifying geopolitical rivalry and challenges to multilateralism are putting the international human rights system under severe strain, as funding declines and states increasingly undermine human rights mechanisms and courts.
Norway is one of the world’s largest per capita contributors to the multilateral system, with a foreign policy that emphasizes international law, support for the UN, and the promotion of human rights. Yet the architecture of international law and the human rights system is under growing pressure, as weak domestic implementation and deliberate pushback against international mechanisms and regional courts undermine the credibility of human rights norms.
This seminar brings together leading voices from the UN, academia and civil society to unpack what is happening on the ground and to explore how Norway can continue to shape and defend human rights norms in a geopolitical landscape where they are increasingly under attack.
Co-hosted by the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) at the University of Oslo, and the United Nations Association of Norway, this event responds to the project “Vendepunkt”, which will help shape clearer priorities for Norwegian development policy ahead of a white paper to Parliament in spring 2027.
Key questions to be addressed in the seminar
▪️How do global power shifts affect human rights norms, international institutions, and the UN - and what reforms are needed for the UN to meet these challenges?
▪️What role can development assistance play in sustaining civil society and international human rights mechanisms in this changing geopolitical context?
▪️How can donors such as Norway balance political realism with principled engagement while using development assistance to uphold and advance human rights?
Program:
▪️See the full and updated program at our website: https://www.uio.no/english/research/domus-bibliotheca/events/2026/human-rights-geopolitics
Facilitation during visits:
If you need an elevator or other form of facilitation when visiting us, please call this number when you arrive: +47 90 13 17 55.
🏛️ About Scene Domus Bibliotheca:
Scene Domus Bibliotheca is the University of Oslo's dialogue and communication arena, located at The University Square in downtown Oslo. Here, you can participate in debates, conversations, and listen to exciting lectures.
📢 Curious about what's happening at Scene Domus Bibliotheca?
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://bit.ly/3IjhJBN, or follow "UiO" on Facebook: www.facebook.com/unioslo
You can also find the program for Scene Domus Bibliotheca on our website: https://www.uio.no/english/research/domus-bibliotheca/events/
Register here: https://www.uio.no/english/research/domus-bibliotheca/events/2026/human-rights-geopolitics/#join
Participation is free of charge.
What is the event about?
Intensifying geopolitical rivalry and challenges to multilateralism are putting the international human rights system under severe strain, as funding declines and states increasingly undermine human rights mechanisms and courts.
Norway is one of the world’s largest per capita contributors to the multilateral system, with a foreign policy that emphasizes international law, support for the UN, and the promotion of human rights. Yet the architecture of international law and the human rights system is under growing pressure, as weak domestic implementation and deliberate pushback against international mechanisms and regional courts undermine the credibility of human rights norms.
This seminar brings together leading voices from the UN, academia and civil society to unpack what is happening on the ground and to explore how Norway can continue to shape and defend human rights norms in a geopolitical landscape where they are increasingly under attack.
Co-hosted by the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) at the University of Oslo, and the United Nations Association of Norway, this event responds to the project “Vendepunkt”, which will help shape clearer priorities for Norwegian development policy ahead of a white paper to Parliament in spring 2027.
Key questions to be addressed in the seminar
▪️How do global power shifts affect human rights norms, international institutions, and the UN - and what reforms are needed for the UN to meet these challenges?
▪️What role can development assistance play in sustaining civil society and international human rights mechanisms in this changing geopolitical context?
▪️How can donors such as Norway balance political realism with principled engagement while using development assistance to uphold and advance human rights?
Program:
▪️See the full and updated program at our website: https://www.uio.no/english/research/domus-bibliotheca/events/2026/human-rights-geopolitics
Facilitation during visits:
If you need an elevator or other form of facilitation when visiting us, please call this number when you arrive: +47 90 13 17 55.
🏛️ About Scene Domus Bibliotheca:
Scene Domus Bibliotheca is the University of Oslo's dialogue and communication arena, located at The University Square in downtown Oslo. Here, you can participate in debates, conversations, and listen to exciting lectures.
📢 Curious about what's happening at Scene Domus Bibliotheca?
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://bit.ly/3IjhJBN, or follow "UiO" on Facebook: www.facebook.com/unioslo
You can also find the program for Scene Domus Bibliotheca on our website: https://www.uio.no/english/research/domus-bibliotheca/events/
Advertisement
Where is it happening?
Scene Domus Bibliotheca, Oslo, Norway
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Host or PublisherUniversitetet i Oslo (UiO)
