Since there are only two days left to submit project proposals to the UC Berkeley Human Rights Center Mobile Challenge, we briefly spoke with Phuong Pham (again), Director of Research and one of the Principal Investigators of Advancing New Technologies for Justice at UC Berkeley, about human rights and mobile tech.

(Amy Sample Ward did a bit of a longer, more in-depth interview with Phuong back in late January after the start of the project).

How, in brief, is human rights defined?

What is human rights? While the definition of human rights have changed and evolved to respond to modern dilemmas, there is a general agreement that "all people are born free and equal in dignity and rights." As a matter of fact, the promotion of human rights was principal purpose behind the creation of the United Nations after World War II. As part of the creation of the United Nation, the Universal Declaration of Human rights was drafted and adopted as a universal standard of achievement for all peoples and nation. According to the Universal Declaration, human rights form the  "foundation of freedom, justice, and peace."

What are some promising examples that the Center for Human Rights has seen by way of use of mobile technologies for bettering human rights?

Using PDA/GPS device to investigate human rights abuses. Using phone and sms to for advocacy project. Using mobile technologies to transmit real time data as human right abuses unfold to the media

Technological innovation poised to help increase quality of human rights throughout the world?

Technological innovation such as information and communication technology and geographic information system are important tools to help ensure and protect human rights. Two main features of modern technology innovation are essential to the promotion, prevention, and responsive action of human rights  are accurate and timely information. These features can be used to expose and document human rights abuses and be used to deter human rights abuses from happening. An example of this, the use of internet and satellite imagery in Darfur, Sudan to human rights abuses committed by the government of Uganda.

In addition, information can be directly transmit to media outlet immediate for dissemination and response from key stakeholders.