Gillian Caldwell

Gillian Caldwell

Exec. Director, Witness; Human Rights Advocate

Gillian Caldwell is the Executive Director of WITNESS, an international human rights organization that provides training and support to local groups to use video in their human rights advocacy capaigns. Caldwell was a Co-Director of the Global Survival Network (now WildAid), where she coordinated the two-year undercover investigation into the trafficking of women in Russia that culminated in her 1997 film, Bought and Sold. She is the leader of the Witness to Truth video project in Sierra Leone that urges the government of Sierra Leone to implement TRC recommendations. Caldwell was the reipient of the 2000 Rockefeller Foundation Next Generation Leadership award and has been named one of 40 Outstanding Social Entrepreneurs by the Schwab Foundation, a 2003 Tech Laureate by the Tech Museum, and a Special Partner by Ashoka: Innovators for the Public. Caldwell received her BA from Harvard University and her JD in human rights law from Georgetown University. Her videos have been shown as evidence in legal proceedings, such as the international war crimes investigation against Slobodan Milosevic, in the Sierra Leone Truth Commission proceedings, and at the UN. Ideas recorded on: 8/13/07

2mins
Technology changes everything.
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People are capable of both tremendous good and tremendous evil, says Caldwell.
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Without human rights, we have nothing. Transcript:Well I mean first and foremost because without our human rights we have nothing. In fact it’s interesting to imagine – almost impossible to […]
1mins
Caldwell would use the money to look for multi-faceted approaches to global problems.
1mins
Everyone should live a life of integrity and commitment.
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Legislation is key, but so is individual and cultural change.
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Technology creates potential for more creative ways of connecting outside the mainstream media, says Caldwell.
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Caldwell believes people are fundamentally good, but we are reaching a tipping point.
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It’s important to distinguish between terrorists and Muslims.
4mins
Caldwell worries that the human rights movement isn’t in the game.
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Putting social justice in a proper context.
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Harnessing technology to advance human rights.