Film Screening and Discussion—When “Do-Gooders” Do Harm

Last month, ProPublica broke a shocking exposé, co-published with Time magazine, about power and sexual abuse in Liberia that reverberated around the world. Unprotected follows an acclaimed American charity that said it was saving some of the world’s most vulnerable girls from sexual exploitation. It received generous donations from corporations and private donors. But from the beginning, the girls were being raped—and that is only the beginning of the story.

In this film screening and Q&A, we will explore what happens when good intentions among international NGOs collide with the realities of operating without accountability. Hear directly from the investigative team who uncovered the scandal about lessons learned to prevent future abuse cases.

Speakers

• Finlay Young is a freelance journalist, legal consultant, and researcher. He reported on Unprotected in Liberia, where he lived and worked from 2009 to 2012.
• Nadia Sussman is a video journalist creating short- and long-form visual stories for ProPublica investigations.
• Kathleen Flynn is a freelance photojournalist and documentary filmmaker. She first reported in Liberia in 2007, and now serves as an adviser for Reel Peace, an initiative designed to lift the voices of women in Liberia.
• Sebastian Köhn, project director for sexual health and rights at the Open Society Public Health Program, will moderate the conversation.