Activist uses photography to launch Global Human Rights Project

By Kelcy Dolan
Posted 3/23/16

As his service with the Peace Corps in Morocco comes to a close, Justin Bibee, a Cranston native, has started a new initiative, the Global Human Rights Project (GHRP).

The project, striving for …

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Activist uses photography to launch Global Human Rights Project

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As his service with the Peace Corps in Morocco comes to a close, Justin Bibee, a Cranston native, has started a new initiative, the Global Human Rights Project (GHRP).

The project, striving for “global solidarity” in the fight for human rights, encourages individuals or groups from every country to submit a photo of themselves with the name of the project and their country of residence.

Officially launched in January, the GHRP has seen overwhelming support from around the globe, already he has several photographs from each continent and expects to have at least one photo from every country by the end of the year. With this collection of photos the GHRP will then subsequently publish and sell a book of photography in about a year.

“I am using photographs as an instrument for change,” Bibee wrote in an email. “The Global Human Rights Project is a photographic story that can alter perceptions. Perhaps these photographs can hasten human rights’ universal recognition.”

Bibee believes that photography has the inherent ability to move us as individuals and rise them to action. By presenting photos from around the world of people taking the same action, he hopes to inspire others to join the fight for human rights.

With an expected steady revenue source, the funds from the books of photography will move the GHRP into its second phase, implementing “human rights activities” globally. Representatives will be chosen for each country and undergo a “human rights advocate training” after the photography collection’s publication.

They will then implement activities in their respective communities, which can include funding seminars on human rights, hosting a training session, cleaning up their community, and advocacy initiatives such as blogs and other publications.

“GHRP participants join a community – a global movement of human rights advocates. We will stay together and stay committed to advocating human rights,” Bibee wrote in an email.

This is only one of many different projects Bibee has implemented during his time with the Peace Corps. He began the People’s Advocate Council, which has been renamed Humanac. Humanac is a nonprofit self-advocacy organization “made up of the people, by the people, for the people.” Established in 2015, the group promotes community projects that better the lives of citizens in the areas it has been implemented.

Although he was not a finalist, Bibee was nominated as a Forbes Magazine 30 Under 30 candidate for the founding of Humanac and the work he has done with the organization.

Despite his extensive work with human rights, Bibee believes GHRP is unlike any other project he has done.

He wrote, “This project is bringing people together from every country in the world. I’m very excited about that. I love meeting people and talking to people, and because of this project I’ve been able to talk to people from all over the world.”

Bibee will complete his service in Morocco and return to Rhode Island in late April. Bibee is now a member of The World Affairs Council of Rhode Island and will work alongside the group to continue his work with human rights.

He also plans to continue his work “with the United Nations Association of the United States, working with local communities and elected officials in Rhode Island to inform, inspire and mobilize Americans to support the principles and vital work of the United Nations.” 

For more information on Humanac visit their website at www.humanac.weebly

.com.

For more information on the GHRP visit their Facebook page and view the various photos already submitted or the GHRP website at www.globalhrproject.weebly.com.

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