Human Rights Photography Project

The visual arts have an incredible power to change perceptions and inspire people to act. BIHR is working with portrait photographer Nadia Bettega to show the 'human' face of human rights.

This project forms part of BIHR's broader programme of work, changing the face of human rights. It will allow human rights activists, community groups and vulnerable and disadvantaged people to tell their own stories through compelling images.

Around 80 individuals and groups, including human rights lawyers, public figures, artists, actors, women's groups, travellers and gypsies, the BME community and homeless people, will work with Nadia to express what human rights mean to them. Together they will develop portraits accompanied by a short narrative. The project will enable participants to define for themselves how they and their community are represented.

The project will raise awareness of the different issues groups are facing and the relevance of human rights to these issues. It will demonstrate that human rights are important for all of us, from those working at the policy and legal level, to those who suffer as a result of not having their rights realised.

A number of initiatives will allow the voices of participants to be heard by those whose attitudes and perspectives affect their everyday lives, including service providers, policy makers and the general public. Dependent on funding, initiatives will include a week long photography exhibition, open to the public and free of charge. All participants will be invited to a launch event, alongside BIHR's key contacts among opinion formers, donors, and the media, and in the public, voluntary and community sectors and legal field.  The materials will also be displayed online.

Nadia Bettega is a freelance photographer who has been involved in a number of educational photography projects. She is a founding member of With Eyes Open, a community partnership project encouraging participation by marginalised groups.

Do you work in the voluntary and community sector and want to be involved in this photography project? Or do you have a personal story to tell? Contact Nadia Bettega on nadia@nadiabettega.com.

BIHR is seeking a sponsor for an exhibition of this work. If you are interested, please get in touch with Emily Thomas ethomas@bihr.org.uk.