As we have said in previous post the power of the video have no limits. Just think about the images that we saw coming from the Beijing Olympics ceremony, or the images we saw coming from the quick war between Russia and Georgia.  But there are other important issues that go uncovered. There are heart-breaking stories that go unheard. What news networks tend to cover are the political side of the issues, but hardly the human side. The reason being that they think they are not news worthy.

However there is a new trend that is changing and reshaping how we see the world’s problems. We are increasingly becoming more aware of human rights issues more than before. That is due to the help of simple people like you and I who pick up the video and camera’s and shooting footage of what we see. There is not need of the perfect editing or the sound track, but the cries and the agony are just enough to move the heart.

As in our previous posts, we posted about how Daniel Christopher gave the locals video cameras to document their and others experiences in human trafficking. We looked at how we can understand and appreciate the world we live in and celebrate our cross-cultural similarities as on Pangea day.

I have discovered a new platform to voice the human rights violation is WITNESS. According to their web site “WITNESS is an international human rights organization that provides training and support to local groups to use video in their human rights advocacy campaigns. Beyond providing video cameras and editing equipment, WITNESS is committed to facilitating exposure for our partners’ issues on a global scale.” They aim to empower people to transform personal stories of  abuse into powerful tools for justice, promoting public engagement and policy change.

It was founded by by musician and activist Peter Gabriel and the Reebok Human Rights Foundation as a project of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights (now Human Rights First). In 1992, not long after video of Rodney King being assaulted by four Los Angeles police officers catalyzed interest in the use of video for concrete human rights change, WITNESS was born.

WITNESS had helped people around the world with the cameras and the training to provide to us news breaking footage on major international news channels like CNN, ABC, CBS, PBS, and BBC. The videos had been used as evidence in legal proceedings. This done through partnerships made with various human rights organization through out the globe. New human rights groups send applications. The videos provide evidence to the UN for reports regarding to human right regulations. Mover, to help educate and mobilize people to take action.

This is done through creating partnerships with human rights groups. WITNESS looks for groups that need assistance to get their voices heard. They do not act as funders, but as advisors, collaborators, and facilitators. Any group that which wishes to receive assistance from WITNESS, they will need to send an application. You can also read some of their training manuals for tips.

It does not matter what aspect of human rights the groups focus on, whither human trafficking, political or religious oppression, poor health conditions, rights of women, rights of prisoners, etc. WITNESS had worked with various groups all over the globe to bring about change.

What I find interesting is that they have launched a platform for anyone to upload their videos regarding human right issues. It is the called the HUB. Some videos tend to be short but very powerful.

So, if you have something that you want to the work to see, check out the Hub. If you want to learn how to make a better use of your video, send an application to WITNESS to assist you and your group to make the world a better place. Other wise , if you like everybody else, take some time an watch these powerful videos. Believe me you will learn a lot.