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Since its creation in June, 2006, the Geneva-based Human Rights Tribune (HRT) has provided invaluable coverage in English and French of the United Nations Human Rights Council, an institution broadly supported by the major donors. Sadly, the HRT is in danger of collapse because of financial constraints. Donor patronage of the Council becomes meaningless if there is no one properly – and independently - reporting its sessions, including what goes on behind the scenes. It also smacks of political agenda without accountability. Without credible and investigative media coverage by organizations such as the HRT, there is no way of knowing whether the Council is actually performing a credible function or whether it is just another costly talk-shop pretending to the world that it is taking human rights seriously.

Globally, numerous news organizations are experiencing difficulties in sustaining their operations as media and public needs for obtaining information change. Many are overhauling their business plans and broadening their outreach platforms in a bid to become commercially viable. Others, particularly those aimed at providing audiences with more specialized, quality reporting as a public service, will have to rely on donor or sponsored support.

The HRT is clearly one of these services. The coverage it provides is vital to all seeking to keep themselves informed about human rights. And not just information about the Council. Throughout the year, the HRT and its media partners have provided widespread reporting of related human rights activities around the world. According to the Swiss international organization, these partners and many international news services regularly reproduce HRT articles.

Furthermore, the credibility and comprehensiveness of the HRT site is widely recognized by the international human rights community and appreciated by the public at large. As a free online service and non-profit media, the HRT has depended since its inception, on contributions from private and public sources. However, such funding has been severely curtailed by the current economic situation.

Its editors are now seeking new and more viable solutions for assuring the continuation of this crucial site. Numerous readers have asked how they can help and, with this in mind, its editors are also preparing a system for making online contributions. It is hoped, too, that those donors who seriously support human rights will step up to help.

In the meantime, the HRT says it will continue to cover human rights activities as best as possible, particularly during the upcoming 10th session of the International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland,

For further information and donations, please contact: The HRT Team, Contact: InfoSud, Rue du Valais 9 1202 Geneva, Switzerland Tel. 41 22 732 5705/6 •This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it•