VdA was pleased to host a seminar on Communication Strategies and Human Rights, on the 10th November. The Portuguese Platform for Non Governmental Organizations for Development (Plataforma Portuguesa das ONGD), was responsible for the event that also counted with the scientific support of the School of Communication (Escola Superior de Comunicação) and the financial support of the Portuguese Institute for Development Support (Instituto Português de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento - IPAD).

The attendees filled VdA's auditorium and the lecturers stressed the role of all social organizations in contributing for social change, especially the role journalism plays in this matter.
A code of conduct was agreed between all the attendees regarding the use of messages and images.

"The message in Communication Strategies: a question of human rights" was the title of the seminar that was launched by Hermínia Ribeiro, the president of the Portuguese Platform for ONGD, and Sérgio Guimarães and André Sendin, representing IPAD and Communication School respectively.

The first session approached the theme "Dignity, Respect and Truth", and the second session approached the theme "The message in Public Communication strategies: a question of human rights".

At the end of the day a lecture was given on Communication, Journalism for Democracy and Sustainable Development which was presided over by Mário Mesquita, member of the board of the American Portuguese Foundation for Development (Fundação Luso-Americana para o Desenvolvimento). Once more the key note was the role of journalism as a contributor for social change.