Focus Areas

Empowering Journalists to Forge a World of Truth, Rights, and Equality

At Journalists for Human Rights (JHR), our focus extends through combating misinformation and disinformation, promoting human rights and gender equality, advocating for democracy, fostering peace and stability, supporting LGBTQ+ rights, developing media landscapes, and assisting refugees. Our commitment is to empower journalists to drive a more informed, fair, and just world, ensuring every story with the power to make a difference is told.

JHR conference on misinformation in South Sudan

Misinformation Disinformation

In the digital era, the scourge of misinformation and disinformation represents a profound threat to the fabric of democratic societies. misinformation and disinformation, which is the deliberate creation and dissemination of false information to mislead and manipulate public opinion, have the potential to erode trust in institutions, exacerbate social divisions, and compromise the integrity of the information ecosystem.

We are fighting misinformation and disinformation through a comprehensive strategy that includes training journalists in fact-checking and verification techniques, promoting media literacy, and advocating for the importance of accurate reporting. By equipping media professionals with the necessary skills to identify and debunk false narratives, we help to ensure that the public has access to reliable information, which is the cornerstone of informed decision-making and civic engagement.

We empower media professionals to build a more informed society resilient to the corrosive effects of misinformation. This effort extends beyond individual stories, aiming to strengthen the foundational trust in media as a cornerstone of democratic engagement and social cohesion.

Hand touching cracked soil

Climate change

Climate change represents an unparalleled challenge, directly impacting the world’s most vulnerable communities by exacerbating hunger, destabilizes economies, fuels migration, cripples productivity, weakens social structures, and contributing to conflict. Recognizing this, our approach prioritizes collaboration with frontline communities and innovators in climate action to forge sustainable pathways forward.
We are dedicated to spotlighting this crisis through the power of media, focusing on the disproportionate impacts on vulnerable communities.

By empowering journalists to cover these critical stories, JHR aims to foster a more informed public discourse on climate action, ensuring that the narrative around climate change is both accurate and compelling, ultimately driving meaningful policy changes and public awareness.

Three women at a JHR session on gender equality

Gender Equality

Women and girls are overrepresented among the extreme poor and are disproportionately affected by conflict and poverty. Women play an essential role in creating stability, driving progress, and achieving long-term development goals. Investing in them is key to accelerating sustainable development. Ending all forms of discrimination against women and girls is not only a basic human right, but it also has a multiplier effect, positively impacting their wider community and country.

We are deeply committed to advancing gender equality through the power of media and advocacy. Gender inequality remains a pervasive issue worldwide, and JHR equips media professionals with the tools they need to produce impactful journalism that can challenge stereotypes, influence policy, and spark public discourse on gender issues. By amplifying the voices of those often marginalized in media narratives, JHR is not just reporting on gender equality but actively participating in the fight for it.

Media interview in African town

Peace and Stability

In a world where conflict and instability threaten societal cohesion, we are committed to the principle that a well-informed public is the cornerstone of peace and democratic resilience. By training journalists to deliver accurate, balanced, and insightful reporting on issues of conflict and peace, JHR not only enhances the capacity of media professionals but also ensures that citizens are equipped with the knowledge they need to engage in constructive dialogue and make informed decisions.

JHR’s approach to promoting peace and stability extends to cultivating a media-savvy audience that can critically assess information, discern credible sources, and resist the influence of divisive narratives. Through public awareness campaigns and media literacy initiatives, JHR seeks to elevate the public’s understanding of the media’s role in shaping perceptions and narratives around peace and conflict. This empowers individuals to actively seek out reliable information, participate in peacebuilding efforts, and hold institutions accountable.

Pride march with rainbow flag

LGBTQ+ Rights

We stand as a staunch advocate for the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ individuals. In a world where LGBTQ+ rights are often contested and infringed upon, JHR recognizes the critical role that media can play in advancing understanding, acceptance, and legal protections for LGBTQ+ communities. By training journalists to report on LGBTQ+ issues with sensitivity, accuracy, and a commitment to human rights, we seek to influence public discourse and policy, promoting a more inclusive and equitable society.

JHR’s initiatives aim to dismantle stereotypes and combat discrimination by empowering media professionals to tell the stories of LGBTQ+ individuals with respect and depth. Through workshops, resources, and mentorship, we empower journalists with the understanding and tools necessary to cover LGBTQ+ issues responsibly, fostering a media landscape that reflects the diversity and complexity of human experiences.

Three women journalists setting up camera

Media Development

Media is a powerful force for positive change. Objective and effective coverage is needed to create public conversations, hold key decision makers accountable, and create dialogue on critical issues. By providing training, resources, and support to journalists and media organizations, we seek to foster a media landscape that is not only professional and ethical but also inclusive and representative of diverse voices and perspectives.

JHR’s media development initiatives span a wide range of areas, from investigative journalism and conflict-sensitive reporting to gender equality and environmental sustainability. Through workshops, mentorship programs, and on-the-ground support, JHR equips journalists with the skills, knowledge, and tools they need to report on these critical issues with depth, nuance, and impact. Our approach supports an enabling environment where objective media can thrive, and the public can have their voices heard. By empowering journalists to be agents of change and champions of human rights, JHR is helping to shape a world where the power of media is harnessed for the greater good.

Group of journalists coming together to discuss governance issues

Good Governance

With a steadfast commitment to human rights and democratic values, JHR works diligently to strengthen the capacity of journalists and media institutions to report on governance issues with accuracy, integrity, and a deep understanding of the principles of good governance.

We recognize that good governance is not just about the actions of governments and institutions but also about the active participation of an informed and engaged citizenry. To this end, JHR works to enhance media literacy and public awareness, fostering a more discerning and critical audience that can navigate the complexities of the information landscape and make informed decisions about the issues that affect their communities.

We are not only contributing to the creation of a more informed and engaged public but also laying the foundations for more just, inclusive, and sustainable societies.

Community space full of new immigrants to Canada

Refugee Resettlement

We support journalists, human rights defenders and activists who are at risk and need protection. Our initiatives aim to ensure their safety, well-being, and ability to continue advocating for human rights and promoting democratic values. We help refugees navigate the challenges of resettlement so that they can rebuild their lives and contribute to the global pursuit of truth and justice.

Our approach includes training, mentorship, and advocacy to equip them with the necessary skills, networks, and resources to thrive in their new environments. We provide resources and support mechanisms to empower them and bridge gaps in knowledge and access to services, as well as raise awareness about the challenges they face.

We Need Your Support

Your tax-deductible donation makes a significant difference to us and journalists who risk reprisal in their quest for the truth.