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The Hague Human Rights Film Festival 2024
The Hague Human Rights Film Festival 2024
Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) proudly hosted the 4th edition of its annual The Hague Human Rights Film Festival on November 21, 2024. This year’s theme, “Children’s Rights,” shone a spotlight on the myriad issues affecting children worldwide. Through a curated selection of films and documentaries, the festival explored topics such as access to education and nutrition, the impacts of conflict and violence, and the fight for a sustainable future. Attendees gathered in The Hague to advocate for and celebrate children’s rights.
Festival Objectives
The primary goals of The Hague Human Rights Film Festival are to:
- Raise Awareness: Enhance global understanding of human rights issues.
- Showcase Talent: Provide a platform for filmmakers to present their work to a wider audience.
- Foster Dialogue: Encourage discussion on human rights through film screenings, panel discussions, and workshops.
- Inspire Action: Motivate engagement and activism in human rights advocacy.
- Build Community: Unite filmmakers, activists, scholars, and audiences dedicated to promoting human rights.
Festival Highlights
- Opening Speech: Hear from a young activist who will share their passionate perspective on children’s rights, emphasizing the urgency of addressing these issues for future generations.
- Film Screenings: Enjoy a diverse lineup of feature films, documentaries, and short films tackling various human rights topics.
- Panel Discussions: Engage with filmmakers, human rights activists, scholars, and experts to delve deeper into the themes explored in the films.
- Q&A Sessions: Participate in interactive sessions with filmmakers and film subjects, providing a chance for direct audience engagement.
- Photo Exhibition: Experience a powerful exhibition of photographs depicting children, displayed outside the cinema hall, offering another medium to connect with children’s rights issues.
Why the Hague?
The film festival started with an opening speech by child activist Anghelina Severin
Movie line up
Butterfly Butterfly (2022)
Director: Len Morris
“Butterfly Butterfly” explored the question: How do we treat our children? It delved into the promises made over the last 30 years to provide children with essential rights such as food, healthcare, education, safety, clean water, and gender equality. Through the stories of child refugees and those affected by conflict, the documentary examined the progress and setbacks in fulfilling these commitments. “Butterfly Butterfly” offered a critical reflection on the global efforts to protect and uplift children, highlighting both the achievements and the ongoing challenges they faced.
Worth of A Girl: Hope and Survival of Child Brides (2020)
Director: Steven Ferri
This documentary explored the lives of child brides, highlighting their struggles, hopes, and efforts to break free from forced marriages. It delved into the psychological, emotional, and physical challenges they faced, while also spotlighting survival stories and the movements aimed at ending child marriage worldwide.
Children of War (2010)
Director: Bryan Single
”Children of War” examined the brutal realities faced by children in conflict zones, with a particular focus on those recruited as child soldiers. The film documented their harrowing experiences, the process of rehabilitation, and their attempts to reintegrate into society after escaping the clutches of warlords. It offered a powerful commentary on the impact of war on young lives.
Hunger Ward (2020)
Director: Skye Fitzgerald
”Hunger Ward” focused on the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, particularly the effects of famine on children. The documentary highlighted the devastating consequences of war and conflict on children’s health, with heart-wrenching scenes from clinics where malnourished children struggled for survival. It showcased the efforts of healthcare workers who fought against overwhelming odds to save these children.
International Adoptions: A Global Scandal (2024)
Directors: Sonia Gonzalez & Christine Tournadre
This documentary investigated the darker side of international adoptions, uncovering instances of fraud, trafficking, and exploitation. It highlighted the unethical practices surrounding the adoption of children from impoverished nations by wealthier families in the West. The film called for greater transparency, regulation, and ethical standards in international adoption processes to protect vulnerable children.
The film festival concluded with a panel discussion highlighting the importance of children's rights
Edith Bardel
Edith Bardel is a Child Protection Officer working with the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) on Violence against Children. With a strong commitment to mainstreaming children’s rights, she plays a pivotal role in high-level advocacy in accelerating the implementation of Child Rights international and regional standards, national policies, and initiatives aimed at preventing and addressing violence against children worldwide. Bardel works closely with a wide range of stakeholders including international organizations, CSOs, religious, traditional, and community leaders, the private sector, academia, media, youth, women, and children themselves to promote child protection and ensure the safety and well-being of all children leaving no one being.
Katariina Leivo
Katariina Leivo is a dedicated child protection expert with Protect Children, an organization focused on preventing child exploitation and ensuring children’s safety. She is actively involved in advocating for children’s rights and works on initiatives that aim to protect children from abuse, trafficking, and online exploitation. Levio collaborates with policymakers, law enforcement, and educators to create safer environments for children, particularly in digital spaces. Through her work, she helps raise awareness about the dangers children face and promotes preventive measures to safeguard their well-being.
Dr. Sheila Varadan
The Hague Human Rights Film Festival 2024: Children's Rights edition
Relive the incredible moments from this year’s festival, where 160 passionate visitors joined us to advocate for children’s rights. The 4th edition was a resounding success, featuring powerful films, an inspiring opening speech by child activist Anghelina Severin, and insightful discussions led by our panelists. Thank you to everyone who made this event unforgettable!
Our Mission
At its core, the GHRD Film Festival celebrates diversity and reminds us of our shared humanity. It showcases that the true progress of a society is reflected in how it treats all its members, especially its children.
Get involved!
To inquire about partnerships and sponsorship opportunities for the next film festival, please email us at humanrightsfilmfestival@ghrd.org.
Join us in making a difference and advocating for children’s rights at the 2024 The Hague Human Rights Film Festival!
View our previous Film Festivals
Last year, GHRD held its third edition of its annual The Hague Human Rights Film Festival on Women’s Rights. The year before, we held the second edition of the film festival on the topic of Minority rights.
