This project uses information and communication technology (ICT) in an effort to create a participatory platform and resource for human rights advocacy, globally. The Hub seeks to be a resource for human rights activists, citizens, journalists, and others to access information and resource footage for news stories. It is also an example of citizen-based journalism, in the sense that it seeks to engage and invite the perspectives of everyday people around the world, providing them with tools and a forum so that that may educate and motivate others to act to end human rights violations and create community around their issues. In short, ICTs are used here to help deter and reduce human rights violations through community-enabled advocacy using visual imagery as a catalytic force.

Specifically, the Hub offers a global online destination for videos, audio, or photos related to human rights violations - whether shot by organisations, governments, or ordinary citizens. The idea is that people around the world can use video, which they themselves upload to the internet, to encourage people to learn more, to create communities/networks, and to extend calls to action in response to the abuses they witness. In short, each video on the Hub is intended to serve as a launchpad for activism: those adding items to the Hub are invited to provide context about the content they upload, as well as direct links to resources, advocacy groups, campaigns, and specific actions that they can take to protect and promote human rights.

Visitors to the site may also simply watch, comment on, and share what others have posted. Every week, visitors may watch the three most urgent videos contributed to the Hub, hand-picked by the Hub's editor. The Community Pick tab provides access to the Hub community's highest-rated video of the week (e.g., "Burma Footage: Police Fire Teargas at Demonstrators"). In this space, human rights defenders, filmmakers, researchers, and journalists who have searched through the content on the Hub bring the Hub community what they think is most urgent.

Specifically, the Hub is organised into 3 main sections:

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2. Upload Video - Any visitor to the Hub may upload human-rights-related footage video they have captured, in any way (from handheld devices or laptops). Online tools are offered to facilitate this process of submitting and sharing videos, whether online or through a mobile device; production manuals and uploading and security guidelines are designed to guide the user through uploading, editing, and reviewing processes.
3. See Video - Users may browse, search, and view uploaded videos from the community as well as from other human rights groups collaborating to provide content. O (For example, a video posted in November 2006 is titled "Egypt: Cairo's Women Speak out against Violence"; a synopsis is provided). One may view content by categories such as "highest rated", "most viewed", "most recent", "by issue", or "by region". The idea is that each video can serve as a launching pad to advocacy groups, discussions, and actions (e.g., sending the video to a friend or posting the video on a webpage).
4. Get Active - Visitors may access online advocacy and community tools such as a various advocacy toolkits, rights-related resources, and research links. They are also invited to create or connect with groups of community members or representatives of various organisations with similar interests or concerns for issues that incorporate videos, online forums, and event organising. Concrete guidance in creating campaigns and petitions will be provided - so that video is not only seen, but also acted upon.

As the Hub expands, organisers plan to offer:

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• Video Advocacy Toolkit - interactive modules and printable PDFs of WITNESS' video advocacy manual, "Video For Change"
• Discussions - platforms for sharing opinions and expertise on Hub media, human rights issues, and advocacy with other Hub users
• Petitions - tools for creating online petitions to pressure key decision makers
• Downloadable videos - technology that allows users to allow their media to be downloaded by the Hub community, so that media is more accessible to those with limited or no internet access
• Interactive maps - use of Google Maps to enable Hub community members to map where they/their group, their media, and their campaign(s) are based
• Mobile version - a version of the Hub that is optimised for viewing on a cellphone
• Direct cellphone-to-Hub uploads - technology that enables users to upload images or video from their cellphone to the Hub in seconds
• Playlists - the ability for users to create their own playlists of human rights videos, resources, organisations, and users on the Hub.

Available as of this writing in English, French, and Spanish, the Hub will eventually be offered in languages such as Arabic, Chinese, and Russian.

Human Rights.

WITNESS works to empower people and organisations all over the world to use video and other technologies to promote and defend human rights.