When we think of human rights, we generally think of the treatment of those in extreme situations, such as war zones. But the 2014 Human Rights Watch Film Festival makes it clear many of these issues apply to daily life.
A travelling festival organised by the New York-based Human Rights Watch NGO, its selection of films has played in various cities, among them Amsterdam, London and Washington, DC. The event moves to Beirut, Zurich and Nairobi later this year.
This year's New York segment (which ran from June 12-22) introduced the "Women's and Children's Rights" programme, aimed at highlighting the abuse of those two groups in developing and developed countries alike.
For festival director John Biaggi, the 22 films - including 16 made by women - shown at the 25th edition have the power to change opinions because they are well made. Even though the subject matter is more important than the style, films about human rights still have to be well made or no one will watch them.
A Grand Jury Prize nominee at Sundance earlier this year, Cynthia Hill's tells the horrifying story of an American woman who was abducted and repeatedly raped by her estranged husband. "The police told her that she would not get him convicted in any meaningful way," Biaggi says. "She only succeeded because he took her across a state line [when he kidnapped her] which is a federal offence. That is a more serious offence in the US than beating her up and raping her repeatedly. It's amazing. This is a huge problem that doesn't get enough attention."
also shows what advocates such as Kit Gruelle, a former domestic victim herself, are doing to help battered women.
, directed by Berit Madsen, focuses on the discrimination women face in Iran. Sepideh is inspired by Anousheh Ansari, the first Iranian woman in space, to consider a career in science - something that goes against the expectations of her family. "There are cultures where women are simply not thought of as equal to men," says Biaggi. "This issue comes up repeatedly in films from many different countries."
