exclusive: Filmmaker and human rights activist Mariana Dahan talks about the documentary “Shadows in the Dark,” which was shot to highlight the plight of people without identification, and how the subject hits close to home. she said. This movie has recently Davos World Economic Forum.
According to the World Bank, more than 1 billion people are undocumented and unable to access basic services such as health care, education, banking, and voting, a statistic similar to that of the movie Shadows in the Dark. “Our Global Identity Crisis”.
“I would say I’m a person who supports universal identity for everyone,” Dahan told FOX News Digital. “I see myself as someone who can speak for those who have lost their voices today, because for many of us, they don’t even exist. And today, an astonishing number of more than a billion people around the world, primarily women and children, live in rural areas, in rural areas, and without providing identification or Talk about living in a culture where providing identification is not encouraged. At birth. ”
“Shadow in the Dark” director Mariana Dahan speaks at Davos.
Dahan was born in the Soviet Union, now Moldova, on the border with Ukraine. According to her, her father “didn’t want to recognize” her at birth and didn’t see why she needed to get an identity card, much less why she should travel abroad and get an education. He also said he couldn’t understand it. Still, it was something she “really wanted to do” and with her mother providing her with ID, she won a scholarship to go to France and continue her life there. She felt “lucky” to have been able to do so.
But she sympathizes with those left behind, some of whom she said have fallen prey to human traffickers.
“No one really knew it existed,” she says. “So I can empathize with them because I went through a similar situation myself, and I want to speak on their behalf today.”
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Border security continues to be a top issue for voters, and Dahan shared his views on how to address the issue.
In the documentary, Dahan speaks in front of the border wall with conservatives who believe asylum seekers should “use the front door” and enter the United States through the proper channels. In response, she suggested efforts should be made to “soften the hearts” of innocent young children seeking asylum who are fleeing persecution in their own countries.
Governor Doug Ducey ordered the construction of a border wall to continue the use of shipping containers. (Ashley Soriano/Fox News)
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Dahan elaborated on Fox News Digital, saying he “absolutely” understands the need to uphold the laws, but suggested some of those laws are outdated.
“I think we live in a democracy and we have to abide by the laws. Perhaps some of these laws are outdated. We are changing at a very fast pace. They need to be updated because we live in a world where, you know, we do.” All these wars are breaking out, climate change is happening. The climate is really shaking us and no one is really safe. We are talking about immigrants coming to the United States from Latin America, but who knows what kind of catastrophe could drive people from Western societies to other countries that are not democratic today? , you know, we cannot rely on the rule of law,” she said.
“So I think it’s a global challenge for us as humans to find ways to solve these problems so that we can respond quickly whenever they arise in the United States or in other countries.” she continued. “We can adjust our justice system and our immigration system to help other human beings.”
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Congress hopes to have a bipartisan border security package approved by President Biden in the coming days.
“What has been negotiated so far, if passed into law, would be the toughest and fairest reform to secure our borders ever in this country.” Biden said in a statement:. “It would give him new emergency powers as president to close the border in case of congestion. If given that power, he would exercise it the same day he signed the bill into law. Let’s go.”
He said successful negotiations would be a “win for the United States.”
Mr. Dahan provided follow-up comments in opposition.
“Immigration in the United States is a complex and sensitive issue that unfortunately remains highly politicized,” she said. “Bills like the one Sens. Lankford, Murphy, and Sinema are proposing lay the foundation for an anti-immigrant administration to close all paths to citizenship, and the Biden administration’s thinking in moving forward with this reform. Although difficult to understand, it is important to continue to advocate for a more humane approach and ensure the inclusiveness and accessibility of legal migration routes.
He added that the agreement could be rife with “potential misuse of technology in immigration management.”
Dahan had hoped that the media would cover the refugee crisis, but speculated that the lack of coverage was due to “fatigue” of bad news.
“After witnessing so many disasters and reporting on so many wars and conflicts and violence around the world, I think we have a sense of fatigue. I just want to move on with my life and hear more positive news,” she said. “But I also think there are issues that revolve around storytelling. And today, the media can be using very outdated methods to convey these issues. Many of us I wake up today and find that all my books, films, and historical accounts have been tampered with.”It’s told from a very one-sided perspective, which feeds a cycle of exclusivity, and it’s important to recognize that They are pushing minorities to the sidelines. ”
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A still from “Shadows in the Dark,” a film of documentary filmmaker and human rights activist Mariana Dahan and refugees. (Photo courtesy of Shadows in the Dark)
She called on the media to be more “inclusive” in its storytelling.
“I think the media and storytellers need to be more inclusive and help immigrant voices be heard,” Dahan said. “I believe nothing crushes hatred and prejudice more than stepping into someone else’s shoes. That’s why we rarely see stories from undocumented immigrants speaking for themselves in the media, and we want their voices to be heard. Listen, we’re listening to how they’ve been through this situation, you guys.” “I know. I think we really empathize with them then. And this story that I talked about. I think the fatigue will go away and we want to help them.”
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Mr. Dahan worked at the World Bank in 2017 before helping to found the World Identity Network. She currently serves as CEO of the Universal ID Council. Her website for the Universal ID Council describes her as a group of human rights activists, identity experts, and technology innovators with decades of experience on important issues related to personal information rights and responsibilities. Masu.
UIDC will place particular emphasis on ensuring that the global financial system provides access and opportunity for all, including those who are currently marginalized, Dahan shared at Davos.
“Access to identification documents is a fundamental human right,” Dahan said. “Our vision is a financial system rooted in equity and self-sovereignty, strengthened by a universal ID program. This system enables inclusive participation in the global economy and empowers the most vulnerable. Break down the barriers you face.”
”shadow in the darkness‘ is available for purchase on Amazon.
