Progress is possible - Bård Vegar Solhjell, Director General, Norad

Progress is possible
Key note speech by Bård Vegar Solhjell, Director General, Norad
The speaker celebrates democracy as humanity's most significant invention, emphasizing its foundational role in enabling life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They reflect on the grim reality of a world where human rights are under siege, with increasing autocracy and threats to activists and journalists. The speech highlights the harrowing accounts of individuals fighting for their rights in Uganda and El Salvador, underscoring the global backlash against human freedoms.
The speaker provides a sobering overview of the state of global democracy, noting a disturbing trend towards autocracy, with a significant portion of the world's population living under sham elections and restricted freedoms. They point out the alarming rise in imprisoned journalists and the deaths of those daring to report the truth, including the tragic story of a Ukrainian writer killed for her work on war crimes.
Despite the bleak landscape, the speaker finds hope in the resilience of people like a doctor in Tigray, Ethiopia, who perseveres in saving lives amid war, and in milestones like Nepal's legalization of same-sex marriage. They draw attention to ongoing social and economic progress, such as the decline in child mortality in Africa and the reduction of extreme poverty globally.
The speech concludes by reflecting on the paradox that the principles declared self-evident in 1776 are now under threat. It invokes the enduring spirit of revolutions and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, asserting that hope and human dignity can emerge from the darkest times. Through examples of courage, progress, and resilience, the speaker reaffirms the inseparable link between democracy, rights, and development, urging a recommitment to the ideals that foster freedom and equality for all.
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