Social Media and Human Rights

Social Media& Human Rights

Poland 1980s

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Many countries now facing protests are:

Run by corrupt dictators who have been in power for years / decades No election rights or unfair elections and no real opposition allowed

High unemployment

Oil wealth

Human rights abuse s routinely committed by State security officials

Limited or non-existent press

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We used to dream about writing about corruption, but where could we publish these articles?

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7 December 2010

17 December 2010

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We would protest - the regime would attack us and no one would ever know about it. With the use of social media however , we could have our voice heard. Ali, Mohammeds cousin

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Rapper

8 January Kasserine and Thala

Sniper units were shooting to kill from tall buildings.

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As in other protests, the citizens filmed the massacre.In minutes everything was on Facebook showing images across the world.

Facebook terrified Ben Ali and his regime.

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2011 Civil warand NATO-ledinterventionresulted in the death of the country's former leader, Col. Gaddafi, and the collapse of his 42-year ruleLibya

SyriaOver two years of civil war, massive human rights abuses, 1.5 million refugees (and counting) have fled the country and counting no end in sight.

Egypt

President Mubarak ousted after almost 30 years in power. Elections held but continued unrest and accusations of police brutality* Mubarak image from The Economist July 2010

One person who is not afraid to die can start a revolution

but it is only when hundreds and then thousands have lost their fear, that a revolution becomes inevitable.

The Death of Fear

2013 Middle East and North Africa

Clay Shirky New Media Expert

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I accessed Facebook from my phone and let my family know that I was safe. Even though I wasn't able to call or text, I could connect to the mobile internet very easily

Japan Earthquake

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an internet campaigning phenomenon

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Combine the unique perspective from satellites with Google Map Maker technology, toss in a generous helping of human caring, and you'll get the driving force behind the creation of an early-warning system to help prevent mass atrocities on Earth.Initiated by actor and activist George Clooney, the Satellite Sentinel Project is focusing global attention and sparking rapid responses on human rights and human security concerns. At its core is access to powerful camera-toting commercial satellites.

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Mohamed Nabbous - Blogger and journalist

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Awareness raising

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIeOSaP-Lgo

* Gif created by David Kernohan

"Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope."

Robert F. Kennedy, June 6, 1966

Photo: BBC

An MQ-9 Reaper, Nevada (USAF/Lance Cheung)