As a founding member of “Not On Our Watch“, George Clooney is no stranger to bringing attention to human rights in Africa.
According to their website, Not On Our Watch is “committed to robust international advocacy and humanitarian assistance. Drawing upon figures with uniquely powerful voices, we develop advocacy campaigns that bring global attention to international crises and give voice to their victims. We target mass media and international press, and engage world leadership. We encourage governing bodies to take meaningful, immediate action to protect the vulnerable, marginalized, and displaced. We mobilize significant funds towards emergency, lifesaving projects to protect those in harm’s way.”
It’s founders include Don Cheadle, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, David Pressman and Jerry Weintraub.
Clooney, along with Not On Our Watch and The Enough Project recently announced the launch of The Sentry, an initiative co-founded by board members George Clooney and John Prendergast. Clooney and Predergast have worked together to fight for rights in Sudan for several years, even getting arrested in 2012 during a protest.
According to www.thesentry.org, The Sentry uses open source data collection, field research, and state-of-the-art network analysis technology to produce evidence-based analysis and focus on how these conflicts are financed, sustained, and monetized. The investigations will aim to engage civil society and media, support regulatory action and prosecutions, and provide policymakers with the information they require to take effective action.
The first four country briefs on from The Sentry are located on their website and feature the Sudan, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Watch The Sentry’s introductory video below.
Over nine million African deaths can be attributed to the ongoing conflicts within the country. According to Clooney, “real leverage for peace and human rights will come when the people who benefit from war will pay a price for the damage they cause.”