Argentina

"Un minuto por mis derechos": El proyecto audiovisual de la juventud en Argentina

© 'A minute for my rights'

Los jóvenes trabajan en equipos para rodar su vídeo en el marco del proyecto audiovisual "Un minuto por mis derechos" en Argentina.

Por Erga Sonnenberg

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, 1º de abril de 2009 – Los jóvenes han descubierto un medio importante para promover los derechos de la infancia en Argentina. Desde 2005, "Un minuto por mis derechos" ha reunido a jóvenes creativos que producen películas de un minuto de duración.

Vea el VÍDEO

En los últimos cuatro años han participado en el proyecto más de 2.000 jóvenes argentinos de 12 a 21 años de edad de orígenes muy diversos. En su mayoría, se trató de niños, niñas y jóvenes de las regiones más pobres del país, que carecían hasta entonces de actividades y sitios donde expresar, debatir o comunicar sus ideas.

Durante un período de cinco meses, los jóvenes que participan en el programa crean, dirigen y editan videos de un minuto de duración. En el marco de ese proceso creativo, entablan un diálogo con sus compañeros, reflexionan acerca de sus derechos y analizan con enfoque crítico mientras difunden sus mensajes.

Un esfuerzo de colaboración

Al principio de los cursillos prácticos, la mayoría de esos adolescentes carece de experiencia fílmica, y su receptividad a la experimentación visual se refleja en la variedad de estilos y enfoques que emplean en los videos.

© 'A minute for my rights'

Lorena Maizares participa en "Un minuto por mis derechos" con su proyecto.

"There was a part that was tough.... We absolutely needed to get the shot, and thanks to everybody we did it, and it was great," explained Mariana, a participant from Salta.

Diverse youth, diverse topics

Participation in the project is open. Many young people discover the programme in school or through local organizations. Some don't attend school, in which case the project can be instrumental in helping them resume their education.

The topics of the videos are as diverse as the regions in which the participants live. Among the issues addressed are free speech, identity, sexuality, domestic violence, discrimination and exclusion, as well as youth cultural expression and the environment.

"Violence towards children and adolescents is an area of concern that affects the lives of many young people," said Nadia, 18, a participant from San Martín de los Andes. She hopes the government will do something about the violence – and that making videos will draw attention to the problem and encourage public discussion.

Reaching a wide audience

Intended to promote children's rights throughout Argentina, the short films are being widely disseminated. Videos reach the public through national and local TV channels, cultural centres, schools and seminars, and even on the Buenos Aires Metro.

There are special screenings at film festivals in Argentina and around the world. Each October, the videos are premiered at the Ibero American Festival of Short Films as part of the 'Young Images in Cultural Diversity' (Imágenes Jóvenes en la Diversidad Cultural) programme.

Such distribution exposes a large public audience to youth perspectives on important social issues.

OneMinutesJr initiative

The project grew out of the global OneMinutesJr initiative, launched in 2002 by the European Cultural Foundation, the One Minutes Foundation and UNICEF. In Argentina, the project focused on children's rights because its organizers saw a need for wider public knowledge and discussion of this issue.

As the project begins its fifth year, even more young people will share their thoughts and creativity, continuing to pursue the greater goal of raising awareness by raising their voices.