Witness is a non governmental organization (NGO) that uses video and online technologies to open the eyes of the world to human rights violations. Through its partners and by the use of video advocacy, it seeks to change practice, policy and law globally. The VA is also part of a larger campaign and can be used as a compliment to the existing advocacy strategies in partner organizations. (In the case of RLP’s advocacy tools are: – Working paper series, Bulletins, Newsletters, seminars, conferences, film festivals, brochures, information sessions, one-on-one interviews with partners and decision makers) The training was therefore, aimed to empower and build capacity of human rights activists and defenders throughout the world. By using video and online technology as a tool to document and promote public engagement, organizations are able to influence positive policy change within their own societies.

Of 200 applications received by witness this year (2008), 30 applicants were selected and 27 got to attend the training from 24 countries(Ethiopia, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Uganda, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, China, Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus, Kosovo, Macedonia, Switzerland, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt and USA) across the world over. These countries represented a range of human rights groups focusing on diverse issues including the rights to health care, LGBT rights, sex workers rights, the rights to education, HIV/AIDS, gender equality, prison reform, internally displaced persons (IDPs) rights, migrant workers rights, sexual and reproductive rights of women, mining reform, free speech and press, children’s rights and psychiatric patient rights.

Each participant was expected to and developed a Video Action Plan (VAP) on a chosen organizational key advocacy objective before arrival at the VAI 2008. Materials to facilitate this were forwarded and included a Video Action Plan Workbook – a questionnaire designed to assist human rights organizations in developing a plan to integrate video into their human rights advocacy; and a book titled, Video for Change – a Guide for Advocacy and Activism.  It is this plan that was used during the VAI practical project sessions. This was also a tool to be used later in implementing the VA on return from the training, so as to meet SMART and successful goals.

The 2-weeks “marathon-intensive” training commenced and sucessfully with both practicals and theory sessions.

Lessons Learnt:

1.       The VAI has imparted the knowledge and ability to share ideas about the concept of video advocacy and brainstorming the strengths and limitations of video as a tool for advocacy. Most important to note is that video advocacy is NOT a substitute for other advocacy tools. This translates to advice NOT to use video primarily as a publicity, educational or training tool. A big relieve comes when we learn that video advocacy is NOT just for professional filmmakers or journalists.

Therefore video advocacy is:-

-          Empowering to those included in the video

-          To help drive changes in human rights policies and practices by communicating with particular audiences.

-          A complement to other advocacy tools

-          Made for a reason, not about an issue

-          Creating a space for action

So to get started with Video advocacy there is need to think through a video advocacy project by considering: what kind of issues is best documented on video; types of stories/images that can best be captured on video; and strengths and limitations that exist.

The major processes in video advocacy after thinking through the project are:-

(a)    Advocacy goals: The purpose of the video within broader advocacy strategy needs to be established. Using the SMART approach, set clear and specific objectives for the video, specify what they are, and how they can be achieved.

(b)   Target Audience:

-          Look for who has influence on your advocacy goal and who should be reached and persuaded. Then understand their perspective or attitude to the issue and their level of awareness. Also it’s vital to find the secondary audiences who can pressure the primary audiences.

-          Establish the “Message” that needs to get to the identified audience and think of how it should be relayed. Is the purpose of the message to educate, engage or activate? It should be one with a clear request for action. After identifying the purpose, think of how the “Story” should be. Is it going to be persuasive, compelling or motivating for this audience?

(c)    Choosing the “Voices”:

The choices of voices are very important to have in the video and should have political, ethical and emotional credibility so as to impact on the audience.

-          Emotional credibility: refers to who speaks to our heart, and to our storytelling instincts.

-          Analytical credibility: refers to who speaks to our head

-          Political credibility: refers to who speaks to the audience. Look for who needs to be in to satisfy them (audience)

-          Ethical credibility: refers to the voice that speaks for ethical reason e.g. do we always ensure that those victimized are given space to speak out?

(d)   Distribution – Timing:

Timing is very vital for distribution. A number of questions need to be answered to have an effective distribution:-

-          Is your audience able, available and willing to listen to you?

-          Is the opportunity to act available?

-          Who will your audience agree to see, and listen to? (choose the right “messenger”)

 After knowing the audience, choose a format, length, language, structure and style appropriate for this audience. Also choose “tipping points” where personal testimony, strong stories, and visual evidence will make the final persuasive push.

NOTE: Public screening of the film is one way to bring on board individuals and the community that featured so as to identify with them and make them be part of the project. It’s one big way of saying THANK YOU!

2.       During the VAI training, participants were able to perfect on their VAPs using the SMART approach. Specific VAPs were then selected, shared and presented by 1 participant each to represent a particular region which comprised of: – Africa and the Middle East; Europe and the former Soviet Union; America; and Asia.

3.       Distributions are in two (2) forms: off-line which includes public community screening  and through film festivals. It also involves screening to the target audience at a suitable venue during a dialogue like conferences or seminars. Hand-to-hand distribution where deliveries of finished films (depending on format) are sent to physical addresses is another form of offline distribution. This method is important in making sure there is a commitment in viewing the film since physical contact to meet in-person occurs.

The second is on-line distribution which includes the HUB, Youtube or Vlog/Blog and many more other platforms available. This is helpful in reaching a wider and far audience especially the Diasporas within the shortest possible time. It is useful in getting the target audience into discussions about a particular issue. 

4.        A hands-on VAI video production project involved the technical aspect of the camera training (Production). Into groups of 2-3 assisted mentors from Concordia University, participants produced short documentaries on Benny Farm, a large housing development in Montreal.  These exercises involved: interview sessions, camera technique, compositions, documentation checklist and archiving, film shooting and editing.

Some of the tips put into consideration in these sessions were:

(i)       Need to consider your target audience.  Avoid dramatization (use objects!!) photographs, newspaper clippings etc

(ii)      For nervous interviewees, you need to keep your crew smaller

(iii)     Stop interviewee if you feel it’s not going well.

(iv)     Encourage someone to do what they want or do everyday eg cooking or digging.

(v)      Use some who is he/she is familiar with to interview. It could be a friend.

(vi)     Keep the interview as natural as possible.

(vii)   Pay attention to none verbal communications

(viii)  Incase you find yourself in a position where you don’t have enough interviews, think of Newspapers, title cards or liaise with organizations that have footages.

Also Andy Goodman’s 10 rules for Story telling were helpful in considering that one comes up with a good story to have a good documentary as listed below.

(a)    Stories are about people

(b)   Stories needs to be fixed in time and place

(c)    Stories speak the audience language

(d)   Stories stir up emotions

(e)   Stories don’t tell, they show

(f)     Stories have at least one moment of truth

(g)    Stories have a clear meaning

(h)   The people in your story have to want something

(i)      Let your characters speak for themselves

(j)     Audience bore easily, so stories need obstacles/challenges

Benefits

One of the hallmark remuneration gained from the VAI is Capacity building/Human Resource at institutional and individual level. These skills and expertise that range from preproduction and production to postproduction will be Key in RLP’s advocacy strategies through the use of multimedia platform that will complement our existing ones and therefore enhance our outreach diversity. This will see the institution produce numerous documentaries around human rights issues on a consistent basis.

Offline: Training manual and a book, Video for Change: A Guide on Advocacy and Activism

Online: Numerous websites that offer guidance on pre/post/production. (Available in hardcopy).

These resources will be a reference, support tool and fallback point for the progress of the project.

Networking has been a major ingredient to this training. A number of people from different walks of lives and experience have been built into a social community that we can use for future references.

Challenges

However, there are a number of bottlenecks foreseen in implementing the VA. 

-          Time: The issue of conflict with other organizational existing activities will greatly affect the full operation of the VA project.

-          Resources: Logistics and funds for hardware and software requirement and accessibility will always remain a hindrance

-          Safety and security:  This involves the safety while in the field taking footages and online security during distribution and interviewees that have stories that are sensitive.

-          Unexpected emergency issues

-          Accommodation of the tool with the institution

-          Sustainability

A crowd of refugees waiting outside RLP office for case registration.

The Refugee Law Project (RLP) seeks to ensure fundamental human rights for all forced migrants within Uganda ie refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons. This mandate is achieved through 3 thematic activities ie research & advocacy; legal aid & counseling; and education & training.

Below is a two-part documentary highlighting the the work of RLP.

Part One

Part Two