The Campaign News
Blogging the EHHR Campaign Celebration and Media Awards
The Elders have gathered a wide ranging group in Paris today, including 30 award winning human rights journalists, to amplify the voices of millions of people around the world, re-committing themselves to the goals of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and calling on governments & individuals everywhere to renew their commitment to human rights.
We're blogging live from the La Maison Des Arts et Métiers in Paris. We'll post a few photos from the event now, and video footage with the substance that's so much more important later this week.
Event guests gathered in the auditorium.
Members of the Elders and other campaign partners seated before the event.
Lyse Doucet, Senior Presenter and Correspondent with BBC, introducing the Celebration and Media Awards. Ms. Lyse is our MC for the evening. She started by introducing a new member of the Elders - the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Lyse Doucet introduced Ambassador François Zimeray, the French Ambassador for Human Rights, who welcomed guests and introduced one of tonight's stars, Ambassador Stéphane Hessel. Ambassador Hessel is 90, and participated in drafting the original Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
Ambassador Stéphane Hessel discussing the importance of the Universal Declaration when it was first drafted, and it's tremendous importance today.
The crowd is introduced to a short film showing some of the campaign's highlights over the course of the year.
Mary Robinson took to the stage to reflect on the campaign as a member of the Elders. She told some stories about grassroots organizations that worked toward the campaign goals throughout the year and some of the lead partners who mobilized millions to take action.
Mary Robinson introduces members of the campaign team. Sharon Johnson, Scott Jerbi, and Heather Grady are pictured standing toward the front of the room.
Then the crowd was introduced to Manana Аslamazyan, Executive Director of Internews Europe & president of Internews International. The Every Human Has Rights Media Awards portion of the event was coordinated by by Manana and her team. Internews flew 38 journalists to Paris to recognize them for their exceptional work in human rights journalism, and all of the Media Award winners are being recognized at tonight's event.
Manana Аslamazyan introducing the Every Human Has Rights Media Awards
An award winning journalist himself, Jimmy Briggs took to the stage. Mr. Briggs served as the chair of the International Jury that chose this year's Media Award winners, after the field of journalist submissions was narrowed down from hundreds by national and regional juries. He started to introduce the each of the Media Award winners to the crowd.
Jimmy Briggs and Lyse Doucet congratulate Michael Duffy, one of the many award winning journalists honored at the event.
Ingrid Srinath, Secretary General of CIVICUS; Colm O’Cuanachain, head of campaigns for Amnesty International; Ramesh Singh CEO of Action Aid International; and George Papagiannis of UNESCO also spoke at the event.
Jimmy Carter giving his closing remarks
All of the Every Human Has Rights Media Award winners took the stage with members of the Elders Mary Robinson and Jimmy Carter for a brief Q&A
You can see all of the award winning human rights stories on the EHHR Media-Awards website (www.everyhumanhasrights.org/media-awards). Look for video footage from this event later in the week.
