This fall, the Dissent & Democracy project at the Dickey Center for International Understanding hosted renowned human rights lawyer and democracy defender Nicholas Opiyo for an extended visit to Dartmouth.
Nicholas Opiyo is the Senior Director for Human Rights at the African Middle Eastern Leadership Project, and a Frontline Fellow with the Renew Democracy Initiative. His most notable work includes fighting against Uganda’s restrictive anti-LGBTQ law and representing Bobi Wine, a Ugandan activist and leading opposition presidential candidate. For these efforts, he has faced shunning from community and family, as well as harassment, arrest, and threats from the Ugandan government.
During his stay, Mr. Opiyo engaged with the Dartmouth community through talks, events, and classroom visits. In his public lecture titled Lessons from a Democracy Defender Mr. Opiyo shared stories detailing the risks and costs he and his family have faced due to his tireless advocacy. Drawing from his extensive experience, Mr. Opiyo emphasized that the preservation and defense of rights and democracy demand constant commitment and work. He inspired students and community members alike, recounting the gratitude and inspiration he receives from the individuals he has helped, which fuels his continued efforts.
His lecture provided personal context, recounting his childhood in war-torn Gulu, Uganda. He described trekking miles nightly with other children to seek safety from the Lord’s Resistance Army. Inspired by a local lawyer running a clinic, he pursued law to help vulnerable populations resist oppression.
His central message to the audience was one of hope and action: progress is achievable, and he encouraged others to join the fight for democracy.
While at Dartmouth, Mr. Opiyo met with student organizations and classes including the Great Issues and King Scholars, Dartmouth LGBTQ groups, the Dartmouth African Student Association and the NAACP at Dartmouth, as well as our War & Peace Fellows and the World Outlook student journal.
His visit also extended to the broader community, including a discussion with students and community members at Thetford Academy and a visit to the Rohatyn Center for International Relations at Middlebury College.
