One of the major developments in the human rights field over the past decade has been the increased application of new technologies, such as satellite imaging, database and data analysis tools, medical forensics, mobile phones, and social networking software to situations in which human rights are under threat. The convergence of scientific innovation and human rights advocacy may well represent a major breakthrough in the struggle for human dignity.
Full realization of that promise will require far greater collaboration between government, business, the scientific community, and human rights NGOs than we have seen to this point. Our panel will describe ways in which new technologies are revolutionizing human rights work and make recommendations for how the U. S. government can play a leadership role in promoting the nexus between technology and human rights.
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Introduction and Moderated by:
William F. Schulz, Senior Fellow for human rights policy, Center for American Progress
Featured panelists:
Susannah Sirkin, Deputy Director, Physicians for Human Rights
Susan Wolfinbarger, Senior Program Associate, Geospatial Technologies and Human Rights Project, American Association for the Advancement of Science
Sarah Dreier, Former Research Assistant, Center for American Progress