- Last Month in Video: August When WITNESS was founded in 1992, we wanted to get cameras in people’s hands. This wasn’t an easy task- at the time, cameras weren’t in every household, they weren’t cheap, and it wasn’t instinctive for people to reach for their camera. Now, video is everywhere, and it’s being made by everyone with a cell phone. […]
- Introducing YouTube’s Updated Blurring Feature From Syria to Charlottesville, it’s not a safe time to be a human rights defender. It’s not a safe time to be associated with the fight for human rights at all. But fighting for human rights has never been “safe.” It has always been necessary. And the dedication of activists makes it clear that even […]
- Youth Speak Truth: Reclaiming the story of Mike Brown, Jr. “He said he was going to change the world, he was going to shake the world and the whole world was going to know his name. And now they do.” – Triniya Walker, younger sister of Mike Brown, Jr. Today marks three years since Mike Brown, Jr., known affectionately to his family as “Mike Mike”, […]
- Keep fighting; keep filming This month marks three years since Eric Garner was murdered by the NYPD. This month, Black Lives Matter turned four years old. And this month marked four years since a jury of almost all white women acquitted the man who killed Trayvon Martin of second-degree murder. Racism in the United States has been forced out […]
- Media Activists: WITNESS and Guardian Project Have Your Back Do you believe that video and technology can support human rights? WITNESS does. We’ve seen first-hand the power of video in supporting and securing human rights. But these days, cameras are everywhere, and so are videos of human rights abuses. This video can be safe, ethical, and effective. But sometimes, documentation gets lost in the […]
- #EyesOnICE: Legal Issues and Security when filming Immigration Officials Resources and responses to questions around filming Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) safely, ethically, and effectively.
- Can video bring down impunity? WITNESS joins TRIAL International for a training on fighting impunity by using video to prosecute international crimes in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Activists in Argentina use videos to denounce increasing institutional violence WITNESS hosts another training in Argentina and supports activists denouncing institutional violence.
- Set your phone to ProofMode Why Proof? You see a wide pink sky and bushes in a relatively nondescript landscape. You hear an explosion in the background. The camera shakes as a man repeats, strangely calm, “Allahu akhbar.” A few seconds later, an explosion rocks the ground in front of the person filming, and the camera falls, sideways, to the […]
- Expose human rights abuses, not the people who survive them You’d probably never heard of him last week, but his face has gone viral this week. Dr. David Dao, the man who was dragged off of United Airlines flight #3411 on Sunday, was trying to get home to see patients. Instead, he ended up getting violently dragged off of a flight—to provide space for United crewmembers.1 […]
- WITNESS is going to RightsCon! (Updated with new sessions) WITNESS is attending RightsCon in Brussels next week and we’re participating in a variety of talks and workshops. RightsCon focuses on the intersection of tech and human rights—right where WITNESS lives. Here’s where you can find us: Wednesday, March 29 On Day 1 of RightsCon we’re part of the ‘Beyond Dystopia: The Future Of Human […]
- The fight for the land continues one year after the assassination of Berta Cáceres, and so do the threats By Laura Salas, Translation by Facundo Ercole Leer en español I’ve been a warrior because I’m from a town which is full of warriors. Berta Cáceres, founder of the Concejo Cívico Popular de Honduras (COPINH) [Honduras Popular Civic Council], has become an icon in the fight of hundreds communities across the Mesoamerica and the rest […]
- Tips for Livestreaming Protests in the United States Livestreaming can be a powerful tool for human rights, but it also comes with risks and challenges. Follow these tips to become a safe and effective livestreamer.
- Community activists targeted as police killings escalate in Rio’s favelas Local activists and residents targeted by the military police for filming violence in Rio favela.
- Using Video to Document “Gasolinazo” Protests in Mexico Activists are documenting protests and direct actions to send a message to the administration that they do not accept "Gasolinazo", a massive increase in the cost of gasoline and consumer goods.
