Freddy Matta, left, and Claire Hastings, right, dance the night away at JHR's 10th birthday bash and annual gala, Night for Rights.

Human rights and journalism were celebrated in top-notch style at JHR’s 10th anniversary Night for Rights Gala in Toronto on September 27th.

 

The event, held at the Royal Ontario Museum amid dinosaur skeletons and ancient sculptures, brought together over four hundred JHR supporters from the media, law, politics, and business communities and raised over $80,000 to support JHR’s innovative and effective programs.

 

During dinner, Lisa LaFlamme, CTV News’ Chief Anchor and Senior Editor, emceed and Freddy Mata, JHR Country Director in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Lawrence Randall, Director of the Liberia Media Center, spoke eloquently about JHR’s work in their countries, particularly around elections. In the Congo, radio station managers dramatically reduced broadcasting hate-speech after Mr. Mata’s team educated them on the international legal context. In Liberia, Mr. Randall’s team, working with JHR, was able to report on national election results in real-time for the first time in Liberia’s democratic history.
JHR would like to thank our partners and sponsors who made Night for Rights possible: The Toronto Star, Global News, Lerner’s LLP, The Canadian Press, Fairmont Hotels, Steamwhistle, Chateau des Charmes, Iceberg Vodka, Nadege Patisserie, Forty Creek Whisky, Flylink, A la Carte, and Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt LLP.