2012 Photo Contest: Snapshot of Democracy

Share Your Experiences and Capture Images of Democracy

Submit your photo capturing democracy and win an opportunity to attend one of the largest global gatherings of democracy activists, scholars, policy makers, and donors. The World Youth Movement for Democracy (www.wymdonline.org), a youth network of the World Movement for Democracy (www.wmd.org), is pleased to announce the launch of its second Global Photo Contest. Young individuals from all around the world are invited to participate in the contest and send in photographs that convey any one of the contests three themes. Participants are welcome from all parts of the world where democracy is limited, transitioning, or established. The submission deadline is 11 May 2012.

Photo Submission Themes

Democracy is practiced in different ways around the world. Yet we believe there are core universal democratic values and aspirations that we all share, even though we live in different countries and regions, speak different languages, and practice different traditions. The purpose of this contest is to capture the ways in which democracy can be reflected in our daily lives, and create images that tell stories about how people see, and where people find, democracy. Each submitted photo is required to fall into one of the following categories: 1. Emerging Human Rights Defenders This category invites you to submit photos that focus on defending human rights. Who are the unsung protectors of the most sacred of rights in our communities? The photograph should incorporate both the human rights defender(s) you want to showcase and the energy and significance of their mission/contribution. 2. Democracy in My Life This theme asks you to take a closer look at democracy and how it affects you. How does democracy affect your life? Where do you see elements of democracy in everyday life? 3. Challenges to Democracy This category welcomes photographs that depict any of the various challenges to democracy on the ground. What is stopping, slowing, or threatening the proper functioning of democracy in society?

Submission Guidelines
Please submit your photo by 11 May 2012 online at: https://democracy.wufoo.com/forms/2012-snapshot-of-democracy-photo-contest/ Photos may be in jpeg, bmp, or gif format. Photos taken using cellphones or other mobile devices are also welcome and encouraged. Your submission must include a short caption that provides the necessary background to understand the meaning of the photo. The caption can be submitted in Arabic, English, French, Russian, or Spanish, and can be no longer than 100 words. Please keep in mind that captions will be translated to English if the submission goes on to the semi-finalist round. Each participant can submit only one photo per category to the contest and may not enter duplicate photos. Submitting the same photograph to more than one category will result in immediate disqualification from the contest. By submitting a photo to the contest, the participant consents to publication and duplication of his/her work, with proper credit given to the photographer. Semi-finalists will have their winning photo published on the WYMD Web site and displayed at the World Movements global assembly. Participants must be no younger than 18 years old and no older than 35 years old before 11 May 2012. All submitted photos must be original works of the registrant. Any plagiarized entries will be automatically disqualified. By submitting a photograph to the contest, you automatically agree to the guidelines of this competition as outlined here.

Review Process
Each category will have its own review committee that is regionally balanced and comprised of 45 judges to determine the five semi-finalists. Photos will be evaluated based on: Clarityit is clear what the photo is meant to capture and how it relates to the category; Creativitythe concept of the photo is original and captures democracy in a new way; Practicalitythe picture capture ideas or concepts that show how democracy can be applied; and Message the picture communicates a meaningful and relevant message.

The photos of the 15 semi-finalists (five in each category: Emerging Human Rights Defenders, Democracy in My Life, and Challenges to Democracy) will be posted online for open voting on 13 June 2012 to determine one finalist for each category. The final results of the contest will be announced on 29 June 2012.

Prizes
Finalists will be provided with sponsorship to cover travel and other expenses to participate in the Seventh Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy in October 2012. (www.wmd.org) The photos of the three finalists will be showcased on the World Youth Movement for Democracy and World Movement for Democracy Websites, as well as at the Seventh Assembly.