Five Easy Pieces for March 2014

Here are a few of the important stories we’re following and ideas we’re pursuing on the WITNESS Blog:

Ignored by Brazilian Government, Activists Take Police Violence to Inter-American Commission

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights hosts a public hearing on police violence used by Brazilian authorities during popular protests ongoing in the country since June 2013.

Crackdown on Journalists in South Sudan, Activist Arrested in Sri Lanka

As refugees escape from South Sudan and Central African Republic, they crowd into neighboring countries, causing shortages. Since media outlets often cannot reach these conflict zones, we rely on citizen video to see what is happening.

Video Documents Aftermath of Drone Strike Which Hit Wedding Party in Yemen

A Geneva-based human rights organization filmed interviews with villagers about a U.S. drone that hit a rural wedding procession in December 2013, killing at least 12 and injuring the bride.

Ethical Examples of Interviewing Sexual Violence Survivors in the DRC

A series of interviews conducted by Lauren Wolfe, director of the Women’s Media Center’s Women Under Siege Project, provide examples of good practices we outline in our “Guide to Interviewing Survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.”

How An Eyewitness Mode Helps Activists (and Others) Be Trusted

Individuals and social networks can both benefit from functionality that would allow video uploaders to add metadata, enhancing the trustworthiness of their media.

For more, visit the WITNESS Blog.