WITNESS

Every video tells a story
Every story can make a difference

WITNESS is a non-profit organization that works with human rights groups worldwide, training them to use video to document abuses and create change.

Since 1992, WITNESS has worked with over 300 organizations in over 80 countries, using film to expose abuse and advocate for justice on a range of issues including the use of child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo, slavery in rural Brazil, the murders and disappearances of women in Northern Mexico, and internally displaced people in Burma. Projects WITNESS is currently focusing on are gender based violence in conflict zones, forced evictions in the name of development and child sex-trafficking in the United States.

With more video being captured by mobile phones, the next generation of human rights activists are utilizing tools like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. In response to new technologies and an increasingly interconnected world, WITNESS is working on innovative projects including an online toolkit that will allow anyone anywhere to create video for change and a face-blurring mobile phone application so that activists worldwide can capture video safely and securely.

WITNESS’ work would not be possible without the student interns who join the team and support the organization’s efforts. Additionally, WITNESS has collaborated with universities to enlist support and educate young people about human rights issues.

To learn more about WITNESS’ work and how you can be involved, please visit www.witness.org.

WITNESS Statistics

Year Founded: 1992
Executive Director: Yvette J. Alberdingk Thijm
Annual Budget: $5,200,000
Scope of work: International