Upcoming Event – Burma and the Media: Amplifying Voices for Democracy

By Nobel Women’s Initiative • August 26, 2010

On September 16, the Nobel Women’s Initiative and the Paley Center for Media will host “Burma and the Media: Amplifying Voices for Democracy” in New York City. This panel discussion—featuring Nobel Laureates, Burmese and international journalists and documentary filmmakers—will examine how global and social media are transforming Burma’s democracy movement.

The people of Burma suffer daily at the hands of the ruling military junta. The regime’s violent abuse of its own people—ranging from the imprisonment and torture of political dissenters to the systematic sexual violence and rape of women—puts it in the ranks of some of the world’s worst human rights abusers.

But, as the list of human rights abuses grows, so do the calls from within Burma for peace, justice and democracy. These calls are building global momentum, as global and social media bring the world previously untold stories from within Burma.

Human rights violations and stories of survivors are documented in real time by bloggers, documentary filmmakers and through the use of Twitter, Facebook and mobile devices. The world, it seems, may be finally opening its eyes to what is happening in Burma.

The evening will also premiere a new, short documentary on the recent International Tribunal on Crimes Against Women of Burma, an unprecedented event held last year in New York and witnessed by people around the globe on the Internet.

Thursday, September 16, 2010
Film Debut and Panel Discussion 7:00-8:30 p.m.
The Paley Center for Media, 25 W 52 Street, NYC

Panelists:
Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Laureate (1997)
Lway Aye Nang, Women’s League of Burma
Annie Sundberg, Producer & Director, Burma Soldier
Khin May Zaw, Radio Free Asia
Moderator Pat Mitchell, President & CEO, The Paley Center for Media

Nobel Peace Laureates Shirin Ebadi (2003), and Mairead Maguire (1976) introducing the film, This is My Witness.

Download the full invitation.