All Library resources are free to download, use and remix (Learn More)
About the WITNESS Library

Welcome!

Thanks for your interest in our training resources. The WITNESS Library offers a wide selection of free, downloadable resources created to help activists, human rights advocates, educators, investigators and journalists use video more safely, ethically and effectively.

These resources distill the knowledge and expertise gained from nearly 25 years of working with partners, experts and allies using video to create lasting change. Check out our FAQs below to learn more about our work.

REMIX + TRANSLATE

Visit our sites in Arabic, French, Portuguese and Spanish for translated resources. Links to translations in additional languages are available throughout the Library.

We invite you to remix, modify and translate these materials so they are relevant to the issues you work on. Our resources are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Many of the materials and their design elements (InDesign files, fonts, images, etc.) are available on GitHub. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, give us a shout at feedback@witness.org.

We love to see how people are using our resources and encourage you to share your revised versions and translations with us!

GET IN TOUCH

Have a question, idea or suggestion? Let us know what you think at feedback@witness.org. Stay updated on the newest training resources and projects –  Facebook, Twitter, Newsletter Sign-up.

If you’d like to inquire about a WITNESS training, send an email to hello@witness.org.

ABOUT WITNESS

WITNESS is an international human rights organization that trains and supports people using video in their fight for human rights. Learn more at witness.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Video Advocacy?

“Video advocacy” is about using video and visual media as a strategic tool to engage people to create change in policies, law or people’s behavior and attitudes. Making an advocacy video requires setting specific objectives, identifying target audiences and developing a strategic plan for production and distribution to ensure the video has impact.

For WITNESS, video advocacy is:

  • Creating video to change policies, law or people’s behavior and attitudes;
  • Using storytelling and video to engage specific audiences to create change, such as courts, tribunals, key decision-makers, special rapporteurs, press or NGOs;
  • Incorporating video into existing advocacy tactics, such as lobbying, petitioning, litigation, community mobilizing or press conferences;
  • A powerful advocacy tool, but it is not “magic” and may not be appropriate for all campaigns or situations.

How did WITNESS create these materials?

These materials were produced in collaboration with our partners, advocacy groups and experts in using video as a tool for human rights advocacy and documentation. Learn more about our work with these groups at WITNESS.org

Are these materials available in other languages?

Most of them are available on our Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and French Web sites. Some materials have also been been translated to other languages as well. The description of individual materials will indicate what languages it is available in and include a download link for those languages.

Can I help translate the materials?

Yes! Please sign up for our Volunteer Translator Database to learn more.

Can I modify the materials?

Yes! Our materials are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license. You can find the text and graphic elements of the tip sheets on our Github page. Simply visit us there, grab whatever you like and customize it to suit your needs.

And if you do, let us know how you adapted the content. We’d love to see what you’re doing.

How often to do you update the materials?

We update these resources and add new ones based on the expressed needs of our partners and activists working in the field. Get notifications about new resources or updated versions by signing up for our newsletter.

Can I submit feedback on these materials?

Yes, we welcome your feedback! Please contact us.

What does WITNESS do with my contact information?

WITNESS will not share your information with anyone. We may send you an occasional email to alert you that an update to the materials you downloaded is now available.

Can I order printed copies of the materials and/or DVDs of the videos?

We do not send out printed copies or DVDs of these materials. However, all WITNESS materials are released under a Creative Commons License. This means that if you’d like to print them out or create DVDs for distribution, you’re more than welcome to.

Will you distribute my resource/video on the WITNESS Library?

While we are considering opening the WITNESS Library to materials created by other organizations, we do not currently have a timeline for doing so. If you do have a resource that you think valuable to the video activist community, feel free to contact us and we may review or highlight it on the WITNESS Blog.

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