Thor Halvorssen Mendoza has been described as a man who "possesses a burning desire to right the countless injustices of this world…” As a Venezuelan human rights advocate and film producer, he has committed himself to fighting injustices that are committed by both the 'right-wing' or 'left-wing' regimes. Through his work he has made significant contributions to individual rights and civil liberties, public interest advocacy and the field of public policy.
Born in Venezuela, he saw firsthand how human rights could easily be violated. In 1993, his father was arrested, beaten, tortured and eventually charged with trumped-up charges of treason. He was eventually released after he led a campaign with help from Amnesty International. This was not the last time he and his family would face violence. In 2004, his mother was shot and wounded after attending a peaceful protest of the Venezuelan recall referendum. The incident left twelve people wounded and one dead. He later wrote an article about his mother’s shooting which was published by the Wall Street Journal.
Through his personal experiences and his studies at the University of Pennsylvania, Thor Halvorssen Mendoza has a special understanding and knowledge of dictatorships, slavery, human trafficking and other threats to democracy and human rights. This knowledge and drive to help others has led to the founding of the Oslo Freedom Forum as well as the Human Rights Foundation. He has also lectured widely on human rights at many establishments including the British parliament, Harvard Law School and the United Nations Association in New York.
Human Rights Work
The New York Times described him as a maverick "who champions the underdog and the powerless.” This is best reflected in his founding of Oslo Freedom Forum. This annual gathering has been described as a “human-rights festival” that focuses on “Challenging Power.” Founded in 2009, Oslo Freedom Forum brings together notable persons including Nobel Peace Prize winners, former heads of state and other public figures to exchange ideas about human rights and exposing and ending dictatorship. Wired Magazine described Oslo Freedom Forum, stating that “The power of the event…lies in the seamless mix of grassroots activists, many of whom have risked their lives to speak out, and the top-level policymakers and influences who can act on what they learn."
He is also the founder and president of the Human Rights Foundation. Founded in 2005, this special organization is devoted to global freedom and human rights for all. As a non-profit organization, Human Rights Foundation promotes and protects human rights around the world, but has a particular focus on closed societies. Human Rights Foundation states its mission is to “unite people in the common cause of defending human rights and promoting liberal democracy. Our mission is to ensure that freedom is both preserved and promoted." The organization adheres to the definition of human rights as proposed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This means that the organization believes that all individuals have the right to speak freely, worship in the manner of their choice, the right to both acquire and dispose of property, the right to due process under law, the right to participate in the government, freedom from slavery and torture, the right to leave their country, and freely associate with those who are like-minded.
Born in Venezuela, he saw firsthand how human rights could easily be violated. In 1993, his father was arrested, beaten, tortured and eventually charged with trumped-up charges of treason. He was eventually released after he led a campaign with help from Amnesty International. This was not the last time he and his family would face violence. In 2004, his mother was shot and wounded after attending a peaceful protest of the Venezuelan recall referendum. The incident left twelve people wounded and one dead. He later wrote an article about his mother’s shooting which was published by the Wall Street Journal.
Through his personal experiences and his studies at the University of Pennsylvania, Thor Halvorssen Mendoza has a special understanding and knowledge of dictatorships, slavery, human trafficking and other threats to democracy and human rights. This knowledge and drive to help others has led to the founding of the Oslo Freedom Forum as well as the Human Rights Foundation. He has also lectured widely on human rights at many establishments including the British parliament, Harvard Law School and the United Nations Association in New York.
Human Rights Work
The New York Times described him as a maverick "who champions the underdog and the powerless.” This is best reflected in his founding of Oslo Freedom Forum. This annual gathering has been described as a “human-rights festival” that focuses on “Challenging Power.” Founded in 2009, Oslo Freedom Forum brings together notable persons including Nobel Peace Prize winners, former heads of state and other public figures to exchange ideas about human rights and exposing and ending dictatorship. Wired Magazine described Oslo Freedom Forum, stating that “The power of the event…lies in the seamless mix of grassroots activists, many of whom have risked their lives to speak out, and the top-level policymakers and influences who can act on what they learn."
He is also the founder and president of the Human Rights Foundation. Founded in 2005, this special organization is devoted to global freedom and human rights for all. As a non-profit organization, Human Rights Foundation promotes and protects human rights around the world, but has a particular focus on closed societies. Human Rights Foundation states its mission is to “unite people in the common cause of defending human rights and promoting liberal democracy. Our mission is to ensure that freedom is both preserved and promoted." The organization adheres to the definition of human rights as proposed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This means that the organization believes that all individuals have the right to speak freely, worship in the manner of their choice, the right to both acquire and dispose of property, the right to due process under law, the right to participate in the government, freedom from slavery and torture, the right to leave their country, and freely associate with those who are like-minded.
The organization works throughout the world and often publishes information on human rights violations. For example, the Human Rights Foundation created the Carcas Nine blog in 2007 to highlight “the plight of nine Venezuelans who spoke their minds and paid a price."
He is also a patron of many groups including the Children’s Peace Movement, On Own Feet. This Czech-based group works to help children from war-torn countries relate with children in other areas like Canada, Czech Republic, Poland and Norway.
Films
While he is well-known for his human rights work, he is also a successful film producer. Most of his work focuses on human rights and includes the film Freedom’s Fury. This film, executive produced by Quentin Tarantino, Lucy Liu and Andrew Vajna premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and tells the story of the uprising against the Hungarian dictatorship in 1956. Other work includes being executive producer of Hammer & Tickle. This documentary looks at the power of humor, ridicule and satire as the “language of truth” under the Soviet regime. Premiering in the Tribeca Film Festival in 2006, this documentary features Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev and Roy Medvedev, among others, and won Best New Documentary Film at the Zurich Film Festival.
In December 2006, he produced the documentary The Singing Revolution, first seen at the Black Nights Film Festival. The documentary follows Estonia’s peaceful struggle for independence from Soviet Russia. When the film concluded, it received a 15-minute standing ovation. Other projects, like The Sugar Babies, focused on human trafficking and the plight of migrant workers.
Recently, he has been listed as the sole producer of 2081, a film adaptation of author the short story "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut. The film is about a future where a tyrannical government arrests, imprisons and tortures anyone who disagree with its policies of enforced sterilization and handicapping. The Hollywood Reporter has recently stated that he is currently producing a film adaptation of the novel "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" by Robert A. Heinlein.
Awards and Recognition
For his work in protecting human rights and raising awareness to corruption and the disregard of human rights around the world, he has been given many awards and recognition. He received the Sol Feinstone Award from the University of Pennsylvania for protecting student speech and received the presidential silver medal by Romanian leader Emil Constantinescu to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Romanian Revolution of 1989.
Thor Halvorssen Mendoza has spent his life fighting the injustices many face around the world. From sex trafficking to dictatorships to other human rights violations, he fights to raise awareness and find solutions to end these problems.
He is also a patron of many groups including the Children’s Peace Movement, On Own Feet. This Czech-based group works to help children from war-torn countries relate with children in other areas like Canada, Czech Republic, Poland and Norway.
Films
While he is well-known for his human rights work, he is also a successful film producer. Most of his work focuses on human rights and includes the film Freedom’s Fury. This film, executive produced by Quentin Tarantino, Lucy Liu and Andrew Vajna premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and tells the story of the uprising against the Hungarian dictatorship in 1956. Other work includes being executive producer of Hammer & Tickle. This documentary looks at the power of humor, ridicule and satire as the “language of truth” under the Soviet regime. Premiering in the Tribeca Film Festival in 2006, this documentary features Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev and Roy Medvedev, among others, and won Best New Documentary Film at the Zurich Film Festival.
In December 2006, he produced the documentary The Singing Revolution, first seen at the Black Nights Film Festival. The documentary follows Estonia’s peaceful struggle for independence from Soviet Russia. When the film concluded, it received a 15-minute standing ovation. Other projects, like The Sugar Babies, focused on human trafficking and the plight of migrant workers.
Recently, he has been listed as the sole producer of 2081, a film adaptation of author the short story "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut. The film is about a future where a tyrannical government arrests, imprisons and tortures anyone who disagree with its policies of enforced sterilization and handicapping. The Hollywood Reporter has recently stated that he is currently producing a film adaptation of the novel "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" by Robert A. Heinlein.
Awards and Recognition
For his work in protecting human rights and raising awareness to corruption and the disregard of human rights around the world, he has been given many awards and recognition. He received the Sol Feinstone Award from the University of Pennsylvania for protecting student speech and received the presidential silver medal by Romanian leader Emil Constantinescu to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Romanian Revolution of 1989.
Thor Halvorssen Mendoza has spent his life fighting the injustices many face around the world. From sex trafficking to dictatorships to other human rights violations, he fights to raise awareness and find solutions to end these problems.