IT for protection of human rights: The results of the contest “Social Innovation to Restart Human Rights" contest are known

On March 23, the results of the “Social Innovation to Restart Human Rights" contest were summarized. Out of 38 teams that applied for the pre-election stage, the three best ones were selected and received cash prizes.

The aim of the competition is to raise awareness of human rights through innovative ideas and digital technologies, by implementing projects that are focused on solving existing problems in the field.

The component of innovation and its application through digital means was one of the two core conditions for the selection of ideas. Therefore, the winning team will apply technologies such as mobile application, podcasting and AR to their projects. 

38 teams had applied for the contest during the pre-election stage, six were selected and underwent mentoring sessions with experts in human rights, marketing, and communications. The ideas were then presented to an international jury on their pitching day. 

As part of the event, speeches were given and awards were presented to the teams by distinguished guests. Each participant received an award certificate, the top three ideas received the following prizes: 

• 1^st  place Safe Childhood - 000.000 AMD
• 2^nd place Kanani Podcast - 000 AMD
• 3^rd place Diana Abgar AR visualization - 000 AMD

The teams that participated in the contest presented ideas in human rights ranging from protection of children's and consumer rights, to rural population transportation and to support mechanisms for adults subjected to bullying and mobbing.

Among the winning teams is the Safe Childhood project. It is a mobile application, the main purpose of which is to teach children what to do when they are faced with cruel treatment, dangerous behavior, violence, violation of their rights։ outdoors, in the school or other public places.

The Kanani Podcast Project plans to conduct a series of podcasts to raise public awareness about mobbing, it will also provide psychological tools to the victims of mobbing, that they can use to gain resilience and learn appropriate coping strategies, assisting them to prevent the phenomenon later and build healthy relationships.

The Diana Abgar AR visualization project, will enable users to establish a virtual connection with Diana Abgar, the greatest female diplomat of the Armenian history of the 20th century and an advocate of human rights. Visualized stories will take the public into episodes of her life and activities, raising awareness about the actions of this famous Armenian figure in the field of human rights.

“Social innovation has a vital significance for the protection of human rights.  By investing in social innovation we can build a better and a fairer society, that protects human rights and rule of law. I think the contest has helped develop a feeling of community among youth who are devoted advocates of human rights protection, also creating cooperation and networking opportunities,” said said Andrea Wiktorin, the EU Ambassador to Armenia.

UNDP permanent resident Natia Natsvlishvili in turn said: “It also enhanced the development of the next generation of human rights advocates and human rights leaders.”

After the closure of the ceremony the guests had a chance to network with participants, mentors and guests making new connections for the development of their ideas.

The guests included representatives of the EU, UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, OSCE, the Office of Human Rights Defender of Armenia, CSOs, as well as the participants of the competition.

The contest was organized in frames of EU funded “Accountable institutions and human rights protection in Armenia” project, that is implemented by the UNDP, UNICEF, UN Population fund and OSCE.  

n the occasion of International Human Rights Day, the official closing ceremony of the “Social Innovation to Restart Human Rights" contest will take place, jointly with the Human Rights Institution of the United Nations Development Program's Armenia Office within the framework of the EU-funded "Accountable Institutions and Human Rights Protection" program.