The True Heroes ‘International Conference on Human Rights and the new Media’ was meticulously planned for 6 months, to be held on 19-20 April in The Hague. Then the ash cloud came and flights to the Netherlands became almost impossible. As a result 25 human rights defenders could not reach their conference and risked to be robbed of the chance to learn more about how to use images and new media to better protect human rights in their own countries.
However, the new media specialists involved in the conference decided to turn the difficulties into an opportunity: to show the world that with NEW MEDIA we can still connect and communicate, exactly what the conference aimed to achieve. So the programme is being adjusted in a
‘2.0’ way, with live-streams, a forum on www.media4heroes.com, etc.
The programme on Monday morning remains unchanged with the participation of Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Verhagen, SMS action by Amnesty International for Emad Baghi, round-table discussions and a soapbox debate in Zeebelt Theatre, The Hague. The programme of the conference can be found on the website.
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 