North South University’s school of humanities and social sciences organised a talk on ‘human rights and national security: why open societies need open voices’ at the NSU Syndicate Hall in Dhaka on Thursday.
The session was part of the NSU SHSS Distinguished Lecture Series, said a press release.
The keynote speaker was Irina Schoulgin Nyoni, ambassador for human rights, democracy and the rule of law at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden.
Professor Abdur Rob Khan, treasurer and pro-vice-chancellor, in-charge, at NSU, moderated the event.
Irina Schoulgin Nyoni said, ‘Open societies rely on open voices. Freedom of expression is not a luxury — it is the foundation of democracy and the key to national resilience.’
When human rights are respected, societies grow stronger, safer and more united, mentioned Irina Schoulgin, adding, ‘In Bangladesh, we have seen how young people’s courage and engagement can keep this openness alive and inspire trust in democracy.’
Schoulgin Nyoni began her presentation by providing an overview of Sweden’s foreign policy priorities in the areas of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
She emphasised, ‘A vibrant civil society, freedom of expression and gender equality are crucial components of resilient national security.’
She highlighted Sweden’s continued commitment to advancing human rights through development cooperation and political dialogue, with a focus on women’s and girls’ rights, media freedom and the strengthening of rule-of-law mechanisms, including strategic partnerships with the OHCHR Mission.
She further noted that national security was best guaranteed not by restricting voices, but by ensuring that all citizens — particularly women and minorities — have the right and platform to participate fully in public life.
Professor Rizwanul Islam, dean of SHSS, underlined the global importance of maintaining and strengthening democratic institutions and open discourse, particularly at a time when even in advanced democracies, intolerance toward freedom of expression is on the rise.
Professor Abdur Rob Khan stressed the need to nurture ‘open voices’ within educational and public spheres to build stronger, more resilient nations.
