Videre

Videre est Credere, Latin for "to see is to believe," operates as a non-profit human rights organization, registered as a charity in London, England. Founded in 2008 by CEO Oren Yakobovich and Board Chairman Uri Fruchtmann, the organization was born from a shared vision to document and expose human rights abuses in hard-to-access regions. Yakobovich's background includes leading the Camera Documentation Project at the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem, a project that trained Palestinians to film abuses. This experience was foundational in shaping Videre's global mission. Fruchtmann, a filmmaker, initially conceived of supplying human rights defenders with video equipment. Their collaboration globalized the concept of using visual evidence for advocacy and justice.

The organization's operational model is centered on empowering local communities. Videre equips activists in politically sensitive and remote areas with cameras, including hidden ones, and provides extensive training in security, safe filming techniques, and evidence verification. This approach ensures that the communities directly affected by violations lead the evidence-gathering process. The core of its activities involves a four-part methodology: engaging with local communities to identify unseen violations, equipping and training activists, verifying the captured footage through multiple means, and strategically distributing the evidence. This evidence is processed, categorized, and stored in a secure electronic archive, utilizing tools like social network analysis software and encryption to ensure data integrity and security.

As a registered charity, Videre's business model is not for profit. Its funding comes from donors and grants, and it directs the majority of its finances towards its programs and direct support for activists. The organization does not seek public credit for its work to protect its teams and the communities they serve. The verified footage serves a range of clients, including international courts, policymakers, media outlets, and NGOs, providing them with critical evidence for legal action, advocacy campaigns, and media exposés. This strategic distribution aims to hold perpetrators accountable, deter future abuses, and bring about tangible change.

Keywords: human rights, video evidence, activist training, citizen journalism, social justice, accountability, counter-surveillance, human rights documentation, non-profit, video advocacy, strategic distribution, evidence gathering, conflict zones, political intimidation, grassroots activism, secure communication, footage verification, legal evidence, media exposure, community empowerment