Africa Archives - WITNESS https://www.witness.org/tag/africa/ Human Rights Video Thu, 29 Sep 2022 18:52:07 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 76151064 Harmful Media Narratives an impediment to SGBV survivors’ access to justice https://www.witness.org/launch-sgbv-reporting-guide-africa/ Tue, 27 Sep 2022 08:40:55 +0000 https://www.witness.org/?p=2274401 Media narratives that promote gender stereotypes and disinformation greatly hinder the capacity of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) to get justice. Stand to End Rape Initiative (STER) and WITNESS Africa just launched a media reporting guide to support effective media coverage of SGBV in Nigeria. 

The coverage of SGBV in Nigerian media has significantly risen in recent years. However, unethical reporting that harms survivors of SGBV even more, is widespread. Sensationalised headlines and visuals, language that blames the victims, and terms like “sex scandal” distort the crime of rape and foster a culture of shame and silence.

The media is critical in dismantling rape culture, protecting survivors, and fighting for justice and accountability. However, media practitioners, including bloggers, must ensure they do not become a vehicle for perpetuating disinformation that protects the perpetrators – Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi, Executive Director, STER

The reporting of SGBV in the media affects how society views this type of violence. Thus, there is a need for responsible and transformational media coverage of SGBV, particularly by influencers and bloggers who work in new media. 

The media, including social media, has demonstrated great potential to mobilise support against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). However, viable disinformation incendiaries limit the collective impact of civil society actors and well-meaning individuals in eliminating SGBV and have significantly contributed to the injustice experienced by survivors – Nkem Agunwa, Africa Project Coordinator, WITNESS

The guide offers helpful guidelines through case study analysis to ensure that journalists and other stakeholders in the media ecosystem prioritise ethical considerations that centre on survivors in their reporting.

Download now: SGBV Reporting Guide

Contact: africa@witness.org

]]> 2274401 WITNESS launches #VerifyBeforeSharing Media Literacy Campaign https://www.witness.org/verify-before-sharing/ Mon, 22 Nov 2021 20:32:49 +0000 https://www.witness.org/?p=2264659 WITNESS Africa has launched a media literacy campaign named #VerifyBeforeSharing to help combat the spread of misinformation and disinformation.

This resource-based campaign incorporates learnings from participants at our mis/disinformation West Africa convening and seeks to build resilience in communities most at risk of mis/information and empower them to push back against it. The campaign will support communities with the right skills and tools to identify the threats and prioritize solutions that are contextually relevant to the African continent. 

We have seen the ease in which videos and audios, often crudely edited or even simply recycled and re-contextualized can perpetuate and renew cycles of violence. The emergence of deepfakes and other forms of synthetic media enable more seamless, more accessible abilities to make someone appear to say or do something they never did.  Also, the advancement of technology developed to mislead makes it increasingly difficult to detect and verify misleading content. 

WITNESS is focused on proactive approaches to protecting marginalized voices and human rights as emerging technologies intersect with the pressures of misinformation, disinformation and rising digital authoritarianism. The campaign would adopt a hybrid approach in reaching its objective and would run for six months. There would be physical engagement at the grassroots, including training of community based organizations, activists and journalists on combating mis/disinformation and using video as a tool to elevate the truth amongst other on-the-ground interventions. Simultaneously, the campaign would apply online engagement to reach the set target. 

We implore you to join us in amplifying this campaign by 

  • Resharing some of the videos and graphics from the campaign page
  • Using the hashtag #VerifyBeforeSharing
  • Downloading and sharing the report from our mis/disinformation West Africa convening
  • Advocating to stakeholders including tech platforms to implement the recommendations of the report.
]]> 2264659 WITNESS Announces Mis/disinformation West Africa Cross Disciplinary Convening https://www.witness.org/witness-announces-mis-disinformation-west-africa-cross-disciplinary-convening/ Thu, 09 Sep 2021 13:07:35 +0000 https://www.witness.org/?p=2263329 WITNESS will host a West African cross-disciplinary convening on mis/disinformation in Abuja, Nigeria from September 14 – 15, 2021. 

The convening will explore and prioritize pragmatic solutions for the defense against misinformation and disinformation particularly, as it affects grassroots communities in Africa.

The exponential spread of mis/disinformation presents a real threat to democracies, digital safety and human rights. Also, the advancement of technology developed to mislead makes it increasingly difficult to verify content. We have also seen the ease in which videos and audios, often crudely edited or even simply recycled and re-contextualised can perpetuate and renew cycles of violence. Furthermore, the emergence of deepfakes and other forms of synthetic media enable more seamless, more accessible abilities to make someone appear to say or do something they never did, and manipulate audio and video. 

WITNESS is focused on proactive approaches to protecting marginalised voices and human rights as emerging technologies intersect with the pressures of misinformation, disinformation and rising digital authoritarianism. The convening will bring together leading Journalists, human rights defenders, activists, fact checkers, CSOs and technology platforms to prioritise multiple solution approaches to the threat of mis/disinformation.

The convening will inform the development of resources, guidance and training modules that would help build resilience in communities to mitigate the harmful threat of mis/disinformation. 

For media queries, please contact: nkem@witness.org.

]]> 2263329 Use of Video Evidence leads to Justice in Democratic Republic of Congo https://www.witness.org/video-evidence-helps-lead-to-historic-conviction-in-democratic-republic-of-congo/ Tue, 25 Sep 2018 17:35:35 +0000 https://www.witness.org/?p=2195134 On Friday 21 September, a military tribunal in Bukavu (the Democratic Republic of the Congo) condemned two high-ranking commanders for murder and torture constituting crimes against humanity. Video footage was submitted to the proceedings as incriminating evidence–an all-time first in DRC. The NGOs TRIAL International, eyeWitness to Atrocities and WITNESS, which have worked jointly on the case, salute this step towards accountability in Eastern DRC.

Justice has triumphed in Bukavu, where two commanders of the rebel militia called Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) have received life sentences for murder and torture, both constituting crimes against humanity, as well as pillage and arson. All 100 victims party to the proceedings have been awarded reparations ranging from 5,000 USD to 25,000 USD.

In 2012, the villages of Kamananga and Lumenje (South Kivu) were the theatre of barbarous attacks by the FDLR. Alleging the villagers’ support to a rival local militia, militiamen led by commanders Gilbert Ndayambaje (alias Rafiki Castro) and Evariste Nizeimana (alias Kizito) looted both villages, killed and tortured civilians and burned buildings to the ground.

Read more about the case

“We are delighted with this verdict,” says Daniele Perissi, Head of the DRC program at TRIAL International. “Impunity in DRC is rampant, including among armed groups’ commanders. This sends a strong warning signal to anyone committing abuses who might think their military power places them above the law.”

Videos are shown as evidence for the first time in DRC

This success is the result of a close cooperation between many actors, among which three NGOs: TRIAL International, whose mandate is to fight impunity for international crimes; WITNESS, which specializes in the use of video to defend human rights; and eyeWitness to Atrocities, which has developed a unique tool to record, file and verify videos used in judiciary proceedings. Together, they assisted the victims’ lawyers in collecting the strongest incriminating evidence, including verified video footage and photos – a first in the Congolese judiciary.

Isabelle Myabe, Program Manager at WITNESS, explains: “As part of the investigative process, we trained lawyers working on the case in the best practices of capturing and preserving video as evidence. During a fact-finding mission in July 2017, one of the lawyers documented evidence of mass graves in the targeted villages. An extract of this video was presented in the trial.”

In order to be admissible in court, the collected material had to go through a rigorous verification procedure, to ensure there had not been any tampering.

“During the investigatory missions, information was collected with the eyeWitness app to strengthen the evidentiary value of the footage presented in court”, says Wendy Betts, Project Director at eyewitness to Atrocities. “The app allows photos and video to be captured with information that can firstly verify when and where the footage was taken, and secondly can confirm that the footage was not altered. The transmission protocols and secure server system set up by eyeWitness creates a chain of custody that allows this information to be presented in court.”

Learn more about the use of audiovisual as evidence

“The atmosphere in court switched dramatically”

On the base of the collected evidence, TRIAL International assisted the victims’ lawyers to build their legal strategy.

“When the footage was shown, the atmosphere in the hearing chamber switched dramatically” testifies Guy Mushiata, DRC human rights coordinator for TRIAL International. “Images are a powerful tool to convey the crimes’ brutality and the level of violence the victims have suffered.”

TRIAL International, eyeWitness to Atrocities and WITNESS hope that this double condemnation will prompt other lawyers to use audiovisual evidence in criminal proceedings. They will continue to collaborate to help disseminate this practice in Eastern DRC.

Image credit: Augustin Safari Macumu/TRIAL International

###

WITNESS makes it possible for anyone, anywhere to use video and technology to protect and defend human rights. 

TRIAL International’s on this case has been conducted in the framework of the Task Force for International Criminal Justice, an informal network of international actors collaborating to support the work of Congolese military jurisdictions in the investigation and prosecution of mass crimes in DRC.  

The work of TRIAL International on mass crimes cases in DRC would not be possible without the support of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the Belgian Development Cooperation.

Media contacts

TRIAL International
Noémi Manco, Communications Officer (In Switzerland, French and English)
n.manco@trialinternational.org
+41 79 192 37 44

Guy Mushiata, Human Rights Coordinator (In DRC, French and Swahili)
g.mushiata@trialinternational.org
+243 81 085 80 47

eyeWitness to Atrocities
Nyangala Zolho, Communications Coordinator (In UK, English)
Nyangala.Zolho@int-bar.org
+44 33 00 240 789

WITNESS
Isabelle Mbaye, Program Manager (In Spain, French and English)
isabelle@witness.org
+1 646 249 4992

]]> 2195134 WITNESS Awarded Core Support Grant from the Oak Foundation https://www.witness.org/witness-awarded-core-support-grant-oak-foundation/ Fri, 26 Jan 2018 18:27:23 +0000 https://www.witness.org/?p=2193455 The Oak Foundation, a core supporter of WITNESS since 2004, has provided a renewal grant of $400,000 over 18 months – nearly doubling its support to the organization. The grant will support the implementation of WITNESS’ new strategic vision by strengthening key networks of grassroots activists and citizen witnesses using video and technology for human rights.

While the grant is unrestricted, this increased investment will enable WITNESS to accelerate capacity building within two priority regions – Africa and Asia.  This deepened regional focus comes at a critical moment when threats to human rights are proliferating and communities and activists are increasingly turning to mobile phones and social media platforms to advance their causes.  Increased capacity in these regions will also allow WITNESS to create new tools and resources that will strengthen human rights movements throughout the world around such pervasive issues as natural resource extraction, gender rights, state violence and impunity, and marginalization. Together, we are ensuring that the voices of marginalized communities reverberate loudly and clearly around the world to demand change.

About Oak Foundation

Oak Foundation commits its resources to address issues of global, social and environmental concern, particularly those that have a major impact on the lives of the disadvantaged. With offices in Europe, Africa, India and North America, Oak Foundation makes grants to organizations in approximately 40 countries worldwide.

]]> 2193455 WITNESS Trains on Video Advocacy at Sustainability and Corporate Accountability Summit in South Africa https://www.witness.org/witness-trains-on-video-advocacy-at-sustainability-and-corporate-accountability-summit-in-south-africa/ Sun, 10 Jul 2016 19:31:52 +0000 https://www.witness.org/?p=2191225 On July 6-7 2016, the African Coalition for Corporate Accountability (ACCA) held his 3rd General Assembly in Pretoria, South Africa. During the conference WITNESS presented on the use of video in an advocacy campaigns to mobilize communities for social change and to seek justice.

Photo: Isabelle Mbaye

Session on “Access to Remedy” University of Pretoria, July 7th 2016. Photo: Isabelle Mbaye

The conference gathered more than 80 NGOs, community based organizations, civil society organizations and legal practitioners, all working in the field of human rights, extractive industry and environment.  Participants attended from all over Africa, including strong representation from  South Africa, DRC, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Nigeria. The attendees from countries such as Liberia, South Africa, DRC and Kenya, are facing land grabbing and forced evictions by big companies, environmental problems affecting local communities (Liberia, DRC), poor working conditions and sexual exploitation (Liberia, DRC).  

During this two day event, participants discussed the conference theme of access to remedy, the proposed treaty on business and human rights, development finance, and video advocacy.

WITNESS’ presentation covered the strategic use of video to change policies, practices, behaviors, and laws whilst acknowledging  the strengths and limitations of video for advocacy purposes.  The presentation included information on how to create a Video Advocacy Plan to clearly establish  the purpose of the video and how to determine the audience, all while considering safety and security.

Forced evictions were also part of the presentation through a case study on former WITNESS partners, CEMIRIDE and  the Endorois, an indigenous community in Kenya that was forcibly evicted from their land by the Kenyan government. This case was particularly topical since video from the advocacy campaign video was later used as evidence at the African Commission of Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Participants were very eager to learn more about video advocacy to understand  how it can be used effectively within existing advocacy campaigns.

 

“This session on the use of video was very beneficial for us because we have an idea of how we can do it now, we would like to deliver a message in our advocacy campaign using this medium and also we have learnt what key points should be delivered in a video for these few minutes would be calling out, heart touching to the audience to lead them to give us answers or actions.”

– Alexis Muhima Shinja from Observatoire de la Societe Civile Congolaise pour les Minerais de Paix (OSCMP)

 

“The use of video advocacy will be helpful, especially when it comes to land grabbing. In my country, Liberia, there are a lot of companies, mostly oil companies that are grabbing communities land so we need to use video to show evidence to the world on what the companies are doing that are not in the interest of local communities”

– Lawrence Moore, Green Advocates

The African Coalition for Corporate Accountability is growing and strengthening, the next General Assembly will be held in May 2017.

– Isabelle Mbaye

To learn more about WITNESS resources visit Library.witness.org. The access resources in French, visit Fr.WITNESS.org.

 

]]> 2191225 WITNESS Organizes Video Advocacy Training for HIV Advocates in Zambia https://www.witness.org/witness-organizes-video-advocacy-training-for-hiv-advocates-in-zambia/ Fri, 20 Nov 2015 15:50:11 +0000 https://www.witness.org/?p=1898278 Original title: Video for Change Training for Advocates

This post originally appeared on The International Treatment Preparedness Coalition’s (ITPC) website. ITPC trains activists to advocate for improved treatment access for HIV patients. WITNESS organized a training with ITPC on video advocacy in fall 2015 in Zambia.

WITNESS partnered with us to support a day’s video for change training, for 11 of our partner organizations in Africa. The initiative is part of a joint project of International Treatment Preparedness Coalition and AIDS & Rights Alliance for Southern Africa, funded by Robert Carr Civil Society Networks Fund.

WITNESS

WITNESS is an international non-profit organization that empowers human rights defenders to use video to fight injustice, and to transform personal stories of abuse into powerful tools that can pressure those in power or with power to act.

The training session covered the basics to help participants consider when video might be most effective to support their advocacy strategy. It focused on the elements of video for change, such as strategy and filming techniques, including how to interview for storytelling.

The Trainers

The trainer, Isabelle Mbaye, is a WITNESS consultant based in Botswana. Isabelle was supported by three experienced Video for Change practitioners, who shared their experience during the session.

  • Delight, Felistus and Sylvere paying close attention at video 4 change training.

    Catherine Musola (featured in the top photo) is a well-known Director in Zambia, and is part of Award Winning, Vilole Images Productions.

  • Otim Patrick is the Video Advocacy Manager at the Refugee Law Project, in Kampala, Uganda. He heads up the Media4Social Change Program for the organization, and is an active member of the V4C Africa Network.
  • Elaine Maane works at STEPS South Africa, in Cape Town. STEPS makes documentaries for social change and has used video for advocacy to campaign on HIV/AIDS.

What is Video for Change or Video Advocacy?

Participants trying out the cameras.

Video advocacy is the use of video to bring about change in attitudes, behavior and policies. It is made for a specific reason. It is not simply video about a topic. “It is about the process of bringing about change in policies, law or people’s behavior and attitudes. Video advocacy is about using visual media as a strategic tool to engage people to create change. Making an advocacy video requires setting specific objectives, identifying target audiences and developing a strategic plan for production and distribution to ensure the video has impact. Remember that video is the medium, advocacy is the purpose, and change is the goal.”

Featured image via ITPC.

]]> 1898278