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Human
Rights Defenders Changing Our World
From
freedom of expression to the rule of law, from women's rights to
religious liberty, from environmental defense to eradicating slavery,
from access to capitol to the right to due process — these rights
are being threatened in countries world wide.
Fortunately,
there are men and women who have devoted their lives — and
even been imprisoned, tortured and threatened with death —
to defend these rights.
Accompanied
by their stunning photographs by renowned photographer Eddie Adams,
these defenders of human rghts speak with eloquence and determination
in Kerry Kennedy Cuomo's "Speak Truth to Power."
Ms.
Kennedy Cuomo and Mr. Adams spent two years crisscrossing the globe
to make these deeply insightful portraits of courageous individuals,
including the internationally celebrated — such as Vaclav Havel,
the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Elie Weisel, Rigoberta Manchú
Tum and Bobby Muller.
But
the vast majority are those who are not yet known outside their
national borders — such as Juliana Dogbadzi of Ghana, Marina
Pisklakova of Russia and Gabo Gombos of Hungary, among more than
30 others.
"Speak
Truth to Power" presents an inspiring array of present and
future heroes — from over 35 countries and virtually every
continent.
These
are the human rights defenders who work and sacrifice to dramatically
change the course of events in their communities and countries —
and our world.
About
Kerry Kennedy Cuomo
Kerry
Kennedy Cuomo began her work in human rights in 1981. Since then,
her life has been devoted to the establishment of social justice.
In
1987, she established the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights
to ensure the protection of rights codified under the U.N. Declaration
of Human Rights.
Ms.
Kennedy Cuomo serves as Chair of the Amnesty International Leadership
Council, serves on boards or advisory committees for more than seven
other human rights organizations — and is a member of the Massachusetts
and District of Colombia bars.
She
has led over 40 human rights delegations to over 30 countries. Her
work has included diverse issues such as child labor, disappearances,
indigenous land rights, judicial independence, freedom of expression,
ethnic violence, the environment — and women's rights.
Ms.
Kennedy Cuomo is also the mother of three girls, Cara, Mariah and
Michaela.
About
Eddie Adams
Eddie
Adams is the winner of the 1969 Pulitzer Prize — for his indelible
picture of the Saigon police chief shooting a Vietcong prisoner
at point-blank range in 1968 — and a recipient of more than
500 international, national and local awards.
He
is one of the most decorated and published photographers in the
United States today. His photographs have been seen on the covers
and front pages of Time, Newsweek, New York Times, Stern, Paris
Match, Parade, Vanity Fair, Life and London Sunday Times.
Mr.
Adams' portrait list includes many world leaders and heads of state,
but his earlier work — his coverage of 13 wars — is what
makes him part of photographic history.
In
Vietnam, he went on more than 150 operations and in 1977, Mr. Adams'
photographs of the boat people escaping Vietnam contributed to the
U.S. Congress's decision to admit 200,000 Vietnamese into America.
"Speak
Truth to Power" has been expanded into a play, documentary
film, photography exhibition and educational campaign. Visit www.speaktruthtopower.org
for more information on this project.
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