Ever wondered what it was like to be a human rights defender in GAMBIA during Yahya Jammeh’s regime?
Watch the trailer here
For more details about the free screening of the full documentary, in London – and how to register – please visit Amnesty Internationals twitter feed.
@FLORIO_GALLERY / @FLORIOTRAVELS / @JASONFLORIO INSTAGRAM
PHOTOSTELLSTORIES – FB
@floriophotoNYC – Twitter
Amnesty International will host a screening of the documentary (which we made for them) on 13th August, followed by a Q&A session with experts including Amnesty International’s West Africa researcher Sabrina Mahtani, and chaired by Amnesty International’s Deputy Director of Global Issues and Head of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Makmid Kamara.
‘Gambia’s last decades during President Jammeh’s regime were a story of serious human rights violations. During the 22 years (1994-2016) that Jammeh was in power, the space for expression of dissent was severely limited. President Jammeh’s regime included enforced disappearances, torture, restrictions on freedom of expression, arbitrary arrests, and detention…’ Amnesty – see all the details on their Eventbrite page.
A Louise Hunt & Jason Florio Production for Amnesty International
At the end of last year, we were commissioned by Amnesty International, West Africa, to make a documentary about the human rights defenders, and activists, who worked tirelessly, and often at their own risk, to stand up for those who had been abused and tortured – including working for the families of those who had ‘disappeared‘ – under the 22-year dictatorship of President Yahya Jammeh.
Having traveled, lived, and worked, over the last 20 years, on various assignments and personal projects, in the Gambia, Florio and I were always aware of its dark underbelly. We heard ‘the stories‘ of abuse, torture, disappearances, murder even. And, in a country which depends largely on tourism – the pull of beautiful sandy beaches, year-long sunshine, languorous boat trips on the River Gambia, technicolored sunsets – you’d be extremely hard pushed, if you only visited for a holiday, to have any notion at all of the graveness of what was going on, in the small West Africa country.
“For 22 years, we documented Gambians living in a climate of fear. Their rights were denied and many were subjected to torture, arbitrary detention, and widespread surveillance. But even in those dark days, there were people brave enough to stand up and challenge the abuse of power.”
“Whether they were journalists, human rights lawyers, community leaders, young activists or victims of abuses, they never gave up. Our film portrays their stories, showing the world a lesson that what happened in the Gambia is proof of the power and change that human rights defenders can bring about.”Alioune Tine, Amnesty International’s West and Central Africa Regional Director.
To have all those stories, Jammeh’s reign of fear and terror, Florio and I had only heard whispers about over the years (until April 2016, when Gambians came to the streets to protest after the death in custody of activist Solo Sandeng), our Gambian friends only ever spoke sotto voce about what was going on, confirmed by those who had actually lived them was both incredibly disturbing and humbling. Now, with a new president, they have the freedom to speak out, have their voices heard.
We are truly thankful to every single person who shared their experiences, those who worked with us on the documentary, and Amnesty International for inviting us to make the documentary, in a place that we feel is a second home.
Photos Tell Stories – documentary, photography, travel
Follow us on Instagram @floriotravels / @jasonflorio for updates on
when and where you can see the full documentary
Images from inside ousted ex-president, Yahya Jammeh’s, ‘my 5 Star Hotel’ (as he frequently called it) – the notorious Mile 2 Prison, the Gambia, West Africa, Nov 2017. Taken whilst making the ‘We Never Gave Up – Stories of Courage in Gambia’ documentary for Amnesty International.
These, plus more images from Mile 2 are available for licensing – please contact Jason Florio/Helen Jones-Florio
Instagram @floriotravels / @jasonflorio
