Journalists for Human Rights Comes to SFU

Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) is the largest international media development organization in Canada.  JHR works internationally, concentrating their work in post-conflict African countries such as Liberia, Ghana, and Sierra Leone.  They also operate chapters at universities and high-schools across Canada.  This organization works towards the promotion of awareness of rights worldwide and do this by using the power of the media as a means to create societal awareness.  Nothing embodies JHR’s goal more than this statement:

“Creating rights awareness is the first and most necessary step to ending rights abuses.  By mobilizing the media to spread human rights awareness, jhr informs people about human rights, empowering marginalized communities to stand up, speak out and protect themselves.” – JHR Website

What makes JHR unique?

Although they work in partnership with local media owners, editors, journalists, journalism professors and students, JHR aims to eliminate the need for the work that their organization does by creating self-sustaining change.  This encompasses a long list of core goals and values that is promoted in its university and high-school chapters as well.

JHR – SFU Chapter

JHR has found its place at SFU! Just like all of JHR’s programs, the SFU Chapter promotes Rights Media.  A group of SFU students has taken up the challenge of fighting for worldwide human rights in media. Although they have only been developing for a few months now, they are already active in the online community.

Human rights aren’t limited to organizations and chapters.  The awareness and exercising of your own rights is a privilege whether you’re living in Vancouver or Zimbabwe.  Be active in the promotion of your human rights and fight for those that lack them.

For more information on the SFU JHR Chapter, visit their Facebook Page, Twitter Account, and Video Blog.  To visit JHR’s official webpage, go to: http://www.jhr.ca/en/.  You can also visit their Facebook and Twitter page.

By Kathryn Lim