Since its inception, Human Rights Watch’s International Film Festival has embodied the power of film to make a difference.

Coming in May 2006 to Chicago’s Facets Cinematheque. Click for more information

On mission along the border of Chad and Darfur, Human Rights Watch researchers gave children notebooks and crayons to keep them occupied while they spoke with the children's parents. Without any instruction or guidance, the children drew scenes from their experiences of the war in Darfur. More. Update: Photos from our Spertus exhibition.



Thusday, November 17, 2005: Voices for Justice: Annual Dinner

The Human Rights Watch Annual Dinner, Voices for Justice, celebrates the valor of individuals who risk their lives to defend the dignity and rights of others. This year, we salute three brave activists-from Iran, Sudan, and Uganda - whose work exemplifies issues addressed by Human Rights Watch: creating a more open and democratic political culture in Iran; ethnic cleansing in Darfur; and the plight of women and children living with AIDS in Uganda. More. Update: Photos from our 2005 Annual Dinner!

From 2001 to 2004, thousands of men were arrested and tortured in Egypt for being gay. The brutal crackdown ended on the day Human Rights Watch published its groundbreaking report, shaming a repressive government, on their persecution of people for who they are and whom they love. More.

Since its inception, Human Rights Watch's International Film Festival has embodied the power of film to make a difference. Courageous and committed filmmakers produce impressive documentary and feature films, which stimulate passionate conversations about human rights and inspire new generations of human rights activists. Visit our detailed Film Festival site.

In 1994, at least one half million Tutsi and moderate Hutu were killed over a three-month period. Although Human Rights Watch supplied detailed evidence to the U.S. government and urged immediate action in one-on-one meetings, policy makers failed to prevent the killing. The Rwandan Genocide was a campaign carefully organized by a small group of ruthless politicians who saw the slaughter as a strategy for maintaining power. More (PDF)

Some 300,000 children are currently fighting as soldiers in more than twenty countries around the globe. Denied a childhood and subject to horrific violence, they are used as cannon fodder on the front lines of combat, serve as human mine detectors. More

Workers in American beef, pork, and poultry slaughtering and processing plants perform dangerous jobs in difficult conditions. Dispatching the nonstop tide of animals and birds arriving on plant kill floors and live hang areas is itself hazardous and exhausting labor. More

Some 300,000 children are currently fighting as soldiers in more than twenty countries around the globe. Denied a childhood and subject to horrific violence, they are used as cannon fodder on the front lines of combat, serve as human mine detectors. More

Author and Journalist, William Kurtis and Executive Director, Kenneth Roth were the guest speakers at a luncheon hosted by McDermott Will & Emery at the East Bank Club to an audience of more than 180.  More