Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) is holding The Night For Rights, its fifth annual fundraiser at The Berkley Church tonight, to raise awareness of human rights violations going on in other parts of the world.

JHR's aims to increase human rights-related reporting throughout West Africa. They do this by placing journalists into local media houses as "cross-cultural colleagues," says JHR Outreach Coordinator, Andrew Clark.

"Our programs have been extremely successful in these regards in places like Sierra Leone and Ghana by increasing human rights-related dialogue on the airwaves, papers and television by local journalists that would not otherwise have occurred, reaching and educating millions of people about their rights in a localized context."

Money raised helps improve the level of human rights reporting in Africa -- helping average citizens learn about their rights and empowering victims of abuse to stand up for themselves.

The JRH website lists some first-hand accounts of JHR's impact in Africa, told by JHR's African partners.

The evening's event will feature an open bar (including a Prince Igor martini bar and Steam Whistle beer) from 9 p.m until 1 a.m. as well as top-name DJs including General Electric.

Other highlights include art installations and a raffle with prizes such as a Vespa and two Air Canada tickets.

One of the aspects of the evening's event that I find particularly interesting is the art auction, which will include about ten photographs from journalists in Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Ghana.

Tickets for the evening's fundraising event are $50 in advance or $60 at the door.