About us

World Expression Forum (WEXFO) is a global meeting place dedicated to ensuring freedom of expression for all. We empower global free speech through guidance, analyses, and best practices. We provide a common arena for everyone who believes that freedom of expression is essential for democracy. Our WEXFO Youth initiative creates platforms for young people to engage in dialogue and advocacy.

Our Vision

WEXFO empowers and defends freedom of expression as essential for democracy and human progress. We unite defenders of free speech in a strong global community. We aim to give the young generation the power, freedom, and safety to express themselves.

Our Mission

The need for a forum to discuss and debate the challenges to freedom of expression is greater than ever. WEXFO inspires progress for freedom of expression at all levels of society – internationally, nationally, and locally.

What We Do

• Hub: We are a global meeting place for everyone concerned with freedom of expression.
• Inspiration: We inspire action and progress.
• Influence: We influence developments through reports, projects, discussions, and summaries.
• Best practices: We share experiences and seek best practices for continuous improvement.
• Cooperation: We contribute to collaboration between people and organizations and develop forum gatherings worldwide.
• Youth Engagement: WEXFO Youth events empower young people to engage with and advocate for freedom of expression.
• Local Engagement: At our headquarters in Lillehammer, Norway, we work with institutions like the Norwegian Festival of Literature, Lillehammer UNESCO City of Literature, schools, libraries and businesses.
• Diversity: We reflect diversity in our work and organization.

Our History and Location

WEXFO was established as a joint stock company on August 20, 2021. Our first global conference took place in Lillehammer, Norway, in 2022. The conference is an annual event in May/June, including several WEXFO Youth events. Our 2024 events involved over 1,800 participants from several dozen countries.

We are based in Lillehammer, Norway. Norway has one of the highest degrees of freedom of expression, according to the Freedom of Expression Index (Our World in Data). Lillehammer is a UNESCO City of Literature, an ICORN city of refuge for artists at risk, and hosts the largest literature festival in Scandinavia in conjunction with our conference. The city, the region (Innlandet), and Norway are committed to supporting freedom of expression worldwide.