Watch Now: Captured on Camera: Exposing War Crimes and Human Rights Abuses

People across the world can record and photograph every moment of their lives on their smartphones. When tragedy strikes, such as war or a government crackdown, citizens and journalists alike are now able to document these events in real time.

From the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s to the ongoing war in Ukraine, visual media have exposed apparent war crimes and severe human rights abuses. Photography and video can show how, when, and where atrocities took place, forcing acknowledgement of what happened and increasing the chances that perpetrators will be held responsible.

As media and photography have evolved over the past three decades, how has their role in exposing abuses changed? How does the ubiquitous nature of smartphones affect documentation of conflicts and government crackdowns? What are the ethical considerations? This Perry World House event, part of our Global Lens cultural programming, discusses how visual media can help expose atrocities.

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