Insomnia – DW Campaign Promotes Freedom and Human Rights

What keeps autocrats up at night? DW knows. In a world where democracy is being challenged and freedom is under attack, sources like DW threaten autocrats with independent news and information.

With a new short film, Germany’s international broadcaster Deutsche Welle highlights what keeps autocrats up at night: a free and independent press.

DW strives to cover the complex issues surrounding free speech and media freedom by shedding light on crises, victims of human rights violations, and initiatives striving to improve the current situation and fosters a greater debate on these issues.

A working, independent press plays a major role in countries where people and the press are silenced or censored. DW hopes that its new short film and the accompanying campaign will draw attention to this issue and its consequences.

Besides the short film, DW’s program ‘77 percent’ also aims to achieve the same goals of social empowerment and free speech. It focuses on the youth in Africa as they share their stories, their dreams, and their challenges. Though the 77 percent form three-quarters of the population, the African youth often don’t have a say in political decisions.

Despite the old leaders, young Africans are politically engaged, speaking out against injustice, corruption, and fraud, which can be inconvenient for many politicians. Through ‘77 percent’ young voices are getting louder that otherwise struggle to penetrate the media.

For more than 50 years, DW has supported unbiased information and democratic values in over 180 countries worldwide. DW believes it is its job to challenge autocrats and promote freedom of speech and democratic values around the world.

More information about DW’s mission to provide unbiased information and what they are doing to promote freedom of speech can be viewed here.