Today marks the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). In commemoration, human rights organizations are using YouTube to inform citizens about the significance of the UDHR and the human rights violations that still plague our society. Today's homepage features a sample of these videos, such as the animated piece below which includes information about the UDHR (as well as a catchy soundtrack):
Meanwhile, WITNESS, a nonprofit devoted to exposing humans rights violations through video, is using raw footage from places like href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZCnPu_iJwU">Brazil and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to educate citizens about the human rights atrocities occurring all over the world. WITNESS also wants average citizens to get involved -- you can join their campaign to raise awareness by posting a video response to the question: "What image opened your eyes to human rights?"
Finally, another organization taking a stand on humans rights is The Elders, a group of lifelong peace-promoters including Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Carter, Desmond Tutu, and Mary Robinson. These leaders have been using their "EveryHumanHasRights" YouTube channel as a platform to href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIVXkN15GwU">speak out against instances of man's inhumanity to man over the past year.
Video continues to serve as a powerful tool to expose incidents that threaten the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And while it may be impossible to end human rights abuses everywhere, we can be grateful that there are citizens armed with cameras who help bring these abuses to light.