LAUNCHING PRISON FOR PROFIT'S IMPACT PROJECT
For the last three months, we have worked closely with Ruth Hopkins; investigative journalist and protagonist in our documentary Prison for Profit to prepare the launch of one of our impact tools of our impact project; the Private Security Network.
Three years ago, when we started this project, we had to operate under the radar because of security concerns, but we are now proud and excited to share the network with you.
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LAUNCH OF PRIVATE SECURITY NETWORK
Privatesecurity.network is a transnational network of 33 investigative journalists in 20 countries. It's an online platform devoted to journalistic investigations into the private security industry. The journalists are investigating and monitoring the global private security industry. We aim to increase awareness and transparency in this sector. Over the course of the coming year, journalists will publish articles locally and internationally. We have also launched a leak platform, where whistle blowers can anonymously and safely leak information.
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PRESS CONFERENCE AT FIFDH IN GENEVA
While the Swiss premiere of the documentary Prison for Profit was cancelled, due to the outbreak of the CORVID-19 virus, last Friday (6 March) the International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights in Geneva hosted our press conference where we launched the private security network, with national and international press attending and interviewing us.
Press coverage / newspaper links:
- Courrier International
- Le Courrier
- Tribune de Genève
- 24heures
- RTS / Tout un monde
Here is the Vimeo link of the press conference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JfWzI8CbZ4
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LIVESTREAM DEBATE - PROFITS OVER RIGHTS
Instead of providing a public screening of the film followed by a debate, the festival livestreamed the debate. For 1,5 hours we talked about privatised detention in various countries in the world. How does this affect detainees’ rights, when a detention facility is a profitmaking enterprise?
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The other members on the panel were: Agnes Callamard, UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and Director of "Freedom of Expression", at Columbia University, Michael Flynn, Executive Director of the Global Detention Project, Ruth Hopkins, investigative journalist, Abdulaziz Muhamat, a refugee advocate who for six years was detained in private immigration detention centre Manus Island (G4S ran it for several years), he won the 2019 Martin Ennals Prize for his contribution to human rights, and Femke Van Velzen. The debate was moderated by Luc Hermann, a French journalist.
Watch the debate on this Vimeo link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-ZlEJbMZjo
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NORWEGIAN PREMIERE IN OSLO
Our world tour with Prison for Profit started at the end of February in Oslo at HUMAN International Documentary Film Festival. We have had amazing screenings and Ruth Hopkins gave a masterclass with Ilse van Velzen. They presented and discussed the Private Security Network with the audience. They also debated private security issues with Jeanett Bergan, who works for KLP, a big Norwegian pension fund that recently divested from G4S following reports on their treatment of migrant workers in Gulf states. There was a great audience in Oslo, it was a fantastic well-run festival! Thanks to everyone from the HUMAN festival and Ruth Hopkins for joining.
Photo credit: ©sebastiandahl.com of ©johnnynordskog.com.
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SWEDISH PREMIERE IN STOCKHOLM
Ruth Hopkins attended the feminist film festival in Stockholm on 29 February, where the film was screened. She was interviewed by famous Swedish journalist Kasja Ekis Ekman on her investigation and forthcoming book Misery Merchants (Jacana Media) which details her investigation into Mangaung prison. They also discussed the Private Security Network.
CSECH PREMIERE IN PRAGUE
Femke van Velzen travelled to Prague where Prison for Profit premiered at the One World Film Festival. The film was screened twice and Femke debated private security issues with Jana Smiggels Kavkova, policy expert at the Rubikon Centre in Prague.
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