Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions Who Invite a small number of campaign spokespeople – no more than three – to give short presentations at the launch. If possible, include an individual who can speak from personal experience about the issue; what it means, the impact it has and the importance of bringing about positive change. Invite other campaign spokespeople to attend so that journalists have a range of people they can interview afterwards. Invite campaign allies and other partner organizations to come along. It is important that the room is full of people as this conveys a strong image of “support” for the campaign. Why The launch is an opportunity for the NHRI to put forward a compelling case for positive change on a pressing human right issue in front of all the key media outlets in the country. Your campaign message must be at the heart of every presentation. At the end of the launch, it is imperative that each and every journalist is clear about the “problem”, the solution you are advocating and what positive change will mean in the lives of people. At the end of the formal part of the launch, make sure journalists have an opportunity to do one-on-one interviews with different campaign spokespeople. If journalists were invited but didn’t attend the launch, call them shortly after it has finished. They could have been unexpectedly delayed or assigned to another story but may still be interested in receiving information about the campaign. Alternatively, they could refer you to another journalist in the newsroom who may be able to file a story on the launch. Calendar of international human rights days MONTH HUMAN RIGHTS DAY FEBRUARY 21 February International Mother Language Day 8 March International Women’s Day MARCH APRIL MAY 52 | Chapter 3: Media advocacy 21 March International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination FIND OUT MORE www.unesco.org/new/en/international-motherlanguage-day/ www.un.org/en/events/womensday/ www.un.org/en/events/racialdiscriminationday/ 7 April World Health Day www.who.int/entity/campaigns/world-health-day/ 3 May World Press Freedom Day www.un.org/en/events/pressfreedomday/ 15 May International Day of Families www.un.org/en/events/familyday/