First Annual Congressional Human Liberty 2.0 Event Recognizes Digitally Innovative Charities
Event honors charities leading the fight online and on the ground against human trafficking, hunger, political oppression and more
Washington, DC – Human Liberty, a non-profit human rights education movement, is celebrating the achievements of charities at the cutting-edge of using the tools of the Digital Age to advance fundamental human rights worldwide. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) will host a panel discussion featuring representatives from these charities to share both their inspiring stories as well as the strategies they employed to advance their causes using digital and social media. The panel will take place on June 12, from 5:00 – 6:00pm ET in the Capitol Visitor’s Center (SVC Room 215).
Matthew Daniels, JD, PhD, author of Human Liberty 2.0 (Simon & Schuster, June 2019) commented, “In an age of rising violence and abuse of digital media by extremist groups, these charities represent humanity’s best use of the Internet, to shine the light of hope, compassion, and freedom into some of the darkest recesses of our world. They are the real unsung heroes of the Digital Age, who using cutting-edge digital tools to reach out and help others across boundaries of geography and culture.”
The charities participating in the event include:
- The Human Rights Foundation has blazed a new path for freedom of information in North Korea (a land without internet) through their Flash Drives for Freedom project;
- Reporters Without Borders is being recognized for their work to support a free press in countries where oppressive governments seek to control journalists and censor information;
- Ushahidi has done path-breaking work to save victims in disaster zones using crowd mapping and social media; and
- 4sarah is being recognized for their use of digital and social media to help save sex-trafficking victims.
Senator Daines noted, “The work these charities are doing is shedding a light on those who yearn for freedom across our globe.” The participating charities are among those profiled in Human Liberty 2.0 for being at the forefront of the democratization of human rights. They empower ordinary people to become human rights champions using the powerful tools of the Digital Age. Other chapters focused on the work of The Exchange Initiative, Humans of New York, Nothing But Nets, and Charity:Water.
Human Liberty 2.0 plans to issue annual updates celebrating the innovative charities worldwide who using digital and social media to advance freedom, fundamental human rights, and democracy around the world.
