Instituto Vladimir Herzog

What Instituto Vladimir Herzog does

Instituto Vladimir Herzog (IVH) is a Brazilian civil society organization founded in 2009 by Ivo Herzog to honor the legacy of his father, journalist Vladimir Herzog, who was assassinated by the Brazilian military dictatorship in 1975. Headquartered in São Paulo, the organization operates across three programmatic pillars: Human Rights Education, Journalism and Freedom of Expression, and Memory, Truth and Justice. Its flagship education program, Respeitar é Preciso!, is implemented in partnership with the São Paulo Municipal Secretary of Education and reaches approximately 1,500 public schools and over one million students. In journalism protection, IVH founded and leads an alliance of approximately 100 NGOs (the Rede Nacional de Proteção de Jornalistas e Comunicadores) and administers Brazil's most prestigious journalism award, the Prêmio Vladimir Herzog, in its 47th edition. In the memory and justice pillar, IVH curates the Portal Memórias da Ditadura digital archive, organizes exhibitions, publications, and the annual DH Fest cultural festival, and conducts policy advocacy on transition justice — including successfully litigating a civil action against the São Paulo city government on street renaming.

IVH's underlying digital technology is minimal: a WordPress-based website, a digital archive portal, a podcast distributed on Spotify/YouTube, and an email newsletter system (IVH Informa). There is no proprietary software platform or technology stack. Its revenue model is non-commercial and rests on three streams: individual donations via crowdfunding campaigns (Doe Agora), institutional and government sponsorship (BNDES, Petrobras, CAIXA via Lei Rouanet cultural incentive law), and project-specific grants (e.g., European Union funding for an Amazon journalist protection project in 2024). All programs, events, publications, and content are distributed free of charge. Marketing and audience development are conducted through organic content marketing, the IVH Informa newsletter, press relations handled by Kubix Estratégia e Comunicação, events such as DH Fest and the Prêmio Vladimir Herzog ceremony, and partnerships with cultural and academic institutions including Sesc São Paulo, PUC-SP, and the Sindicato dos Jornalistas de São Paulo. The organization is governed by Clarice Herzog (President), Ivo Herzog (President of the Deliberative Council), and Rogério Sottili (Executive Director since 2017, former Special Secretary of Human Rights under President Dilma Rousseff).

Name

Instituto Vladimir Herzog

Legal name

Instituto Vladimir Herzog

Website

https://vladimirherzog.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Instituto Vladimir Herzog (IVH) is a Brazilian civil society organization founded in 2009 that works on human rights education in São Paulo's 1,500 public schools, journalist protection through a 100-NGO alliance, and historical memory of the military dictatorship, serving students, journalists, and civil society across Brazil.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Society Organization / Human Rights Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Consumer Rights & Public Interest Advocacy (BPAGAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Teacher Training, Professional Development & Education Leadership (BPADAKAC)

Keywords

• Human rights education
• Journalist protection
• Press freedom
• Historical memory preservation
• Civil society organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Brasil

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual donations and campaign contributions: IVH runs donation campaigns (e.g., 'Doe Agora') soliciting contributions from individuals. Donors receive newsletters with institutional content and campaign updates.
2. Government partnerships and institutional grants: IVH receives support from government sponsors and partners. Logos of sponsors visible on the site include BNDES, Petrobras, CAIXA, and the Fundo de Incentivo à Cultura (state cultural incentive fund). These represent institutional funding for specific programs and projects.
3. Cultural sponsorship for events and festivals: The DH Fest festival is realized with sponsorship from Petrobras (via Lei Rouanet) and CAIXA. These are project-specific sponsorships tied to cultural programming.

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Instituto Vladimir Herzog is a Brazilian civil society organization that runs programs across three pillars: human rights education in public schools (the Respeitar é Preciso! program implemented in 1,500+ São Paulo municipal schools), journalist protection and press freedom advocacy (Prêmio Vladimir Herzog de Jornalismo, the Rede Nacional de Proteção de Jornalistas uniting ~100 NGOs, and emergency support), and historical memory work centered on the Brazilian military dictatorship (Portal Memórias da Ditadura archive, publications, exhibitions, and the DH Fest cultural festival). It does not sell commercial products; all programs, awards, festivals, and publications are offered free, funded by donations, corporate sponsorships, and institutional grants.

Product overview

Instituto Vladimir Herzog operates as a multi-program human rights organization rather than a single product. The core offerings include: the Portal Memórias da Ditadura (digital archive), the prestigious Prêmio Vladimir Herzog (journalism award now in its 47th edition), the Respeitar é Preciso! human rights education program deployed in São Paulo's 1,500 public schools, the DH Fest cultural festival, the CASO HERZOG podcast, and the Rede Nacional de Proteção de Jornalistas (national journalist protection network). These programs span three main areas: Human Rights Education, Journalism and Freedom of Expression, and Memory, Truth and Justice. The organization functions as a civil society institution focused on democracy defense, memory preservation, and human rights advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Prêmio Vladimir Herzog: Annual journalism award recognizing works on human rights, amnesty and democracy, established in 1978
• Prêmio Jovem Jornalista
• DH Fest - Festival de Cultura em Direitos Humanos
• Respeitar é Preciso!
• Portal Memórias da Ditadura
• Cineclube Vladimir Herzog
• Rede Nacional de Proteção de Jornalistas e Comunicadores

Products and services

• Portal Memórias da Ditadura One of the principal digital repositories on the Brazilian military dictatorship period, providing curated access to historical documentation and audiovisual materials about human rights violations during the dictatorship. Free and open to the public.
• Prêmio Vladimir Herzog de Anistia e Direitos Humanos (Journalism Award) Brazil's most prestigious journalism award, running for 47+ editions, recognizing journalistic works on human rights, amnesty, democracy, and social justice. Annual award ceremony and recognized works.
• Programa Respeitar é Preciso! (Respect is Essential!) Human rights education program deployed across the São Paulo municipal public school network, training teachers and students in human rights-based conflict mediation and democratic coexistence. Reaches approximately 1,500 schools and over 1 million students.
• DH Fest – Festival de Cultura em Direitos Humanos Annual cultural festival celebrating human rights through film, music, theater, and debate events, delivered in partnership with Sesc São Paulo and Pardieiro Cultural across cultural venues in São Paulo. The 6th edition was held in 2026. Free and open to the public.
• CASO HERZOG Podcast Four-episode audio series produced in partnership with NAV Reportagens and Instituto Conhecimento Liberta (ICL), reconstructing the background and lasting impact of Vladimir Herzog's assassination on Brazilian democracy. Distributed on Spotify and YouTube.
• Rede Nacional de Proteção de Jornalistas e Comunicadores National alliance of approximately 100 NGOs founded and coordinated by IVH to protect journalists and communicators in Brazil, providing emergency support and visibility campaigns for threatened press workers.
• Cineclube Vladimir Herzog Film club initiative co-run with the São Paulo Journalists Union, screening cinema and promoting debates. Reached 10 years of continuous activities by 2025.
• Prêmio Jovem Jornalista Award created in 2009 to recognize young journalists dedicated to human rights and to guide journalism students in writing their first articles.
• Relatório Fortalecimento da Democracia: Monitoramento das Recomendações da CNV Research publication analyzing the Brazilian State's compliance with the recommendations of the National Truth Commission (CNV), examining governmental actions and omissions across 2023-2024.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 million students reached through human rights education programs in 1,500 schools in São Paulo
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Sesc São PaulomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSesc Sao Paulo partnered with IVH to co-realize the DH Fest — Festival de Cultura em Direitos Humanos. The partnership leverages Sesc's cultural venues and audience reach for the festival's programming of film, music, theater, and debate events.
• Pardieiro CulturalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPardieiro Cultural co-organized the DH Fest festival with IVH and Sesc Sao Paulo, contributing to the cultural programming and event management of the festival.
• Secretaria Municipal de Direitos Humanos e Cidadania de São Paulo (SMDHC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVH has an ongoing partnership with the Sao Paulo Municipal Secretary of Human Rights and Citizenship, most notably for the implementation of the Respeitar e Preciso! human rights education program in the municipal school network. The partnership has also produced publications (e.g., the didactic book 'Vala de Perus: um crime nao encerrado da ditatura militar') and exhibitions.
• Defensoria Pública da União (DPU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVH, in partnership with the Defensoria Publica da Uniao, filed and won a civil action (acao civil publica) against the Sao Paulo city government regarding the renaming of streets and public spaces that honor figures linked to the dictatorship. The partnership combines legal advocacy with IVH's human rights mission.
• Kubix Estratégia e ComunicaçãocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKubix Estrategia e Comunicação serves as IVH's press relations and communications agency, handling media inquiries, press releases, and journalist accreditation for IVH events and initiatives. Press contacts include Antonio Sales, Cris Iglecio, and Gerson Penha.
• Comissão ArnsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVH co-organized a seminar on public security and democracy with the Pontificia Universidade Catolica de Sao Paulo (PUC-SP) and the Comissao Arns (an independent human rights commission), bringing together authorities and specialists to discuss democratic approaches to public security.
• Núcleo de Preservação da Memória Política (Movimento Vozes do Silêncio)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVH co-founded and is a key member of the Movimento Vozes do Silencio, alongside the Nucleo de Preservacao da Memoria Politica. The movement organizes the annual Caminhada do Silencio (Silence Walk) and other actions for memory, truth, and justice, and coordinates the #ReinterpretaJaSTF campaign.
• Rede Nacional de Proteção de Jornalistas e ComunicadorescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVH is a founding and leading member of the Rede Nacional de Protecao de Jornalistas e Comunicadores (National Network for the Protection of Journalists and Communicators), launched in 2018. The network coordinates approximately 100 NGOs working to protect journalists and defend freedom of expression in Brazil.
• PUC-SP (Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVH partnered with PUC-SP to organize a seminar on public security and democracy and to host the ceremony of the 47th Premio Vladimir Herzog at the Tucarena theater (a PUC-SP venue). PUC-SP's TV station broadcasts award ceremonies.
• Sindicato dos Jornalistas Profissionais no Estado de São PaulocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVH has a longstanding institutional partnership with the Sao Paulo Journalists' Union. The Cineclube Vladimir Herzog is a joint initiative with the union, and the Auditório Vladimir Herzog (Vladimir Herzog Auditorium) at the union's headquarters hosts IVH events. The union is a co-organizer of the Premio Vladimir Herzog and the 'Em Nome da Verdade' commemorations.
• NAV ReportagensmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVH partnered with NAV Reportagens to produce CASO HERZOG, a 4-episode original podcast revisiting the 50th anniversary of Vladimir Herzog's assassination. The series features historical audio and interviews with over 20 people directly involved in the events.
• Instituto Conhecimento Liberta (ICL)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVH partnered with ICL to co-produce the CASO HERZOG podcast series. ICL is a knowledge and journalism organization that collaborated on the research, production, and distribution of the podcast.
• ONG Mais DiferençasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVH partnered with the NGO Mais Diferencas to create an accessible version of the book 'Um menino chamado Vlado' about Vladimir Herzog. The accessible edition includes PDF and audiovisual formats with reading accessibility features such as simple/plain language, Portuguese narration, audio description, and Libras translation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Conectas Direitos Humanos: One of Brazil's leading human rights NGOs, focused on accountability, international advocacy, and connecting civil society with international human rights mechanisms. Shares IVH's profile as a multi-program Brazilian HR organization with strong international engagement.
• Article 19 Brasil: Article 19 is a global human rights organization focused on freedom of expression and information, with a major Brazil office. Directly comparable to IVH in journalist protection, press freedom advocacy, and freedom of expression programming in Brazil.
• ABRAJI (Associação Brasileira de Jornalismo Investigativo): Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism, which trains journalists, advocates for press freedom, and runs programs supporting reporters. Directly comparable to IVH's journalism pillar and overlapping in journalist protection and training.
• Movimento Tortura Nunca Mais: Brazilian human rights organization focused on memory of political persecution, torture, and dictatorship-era crimes. Direct peer to IVH's Memory, Truth and Justice program area with overlapping mission on dictatorship remembrance and reparations.

Others

• Instituto Vladimir Herzog (Acervo Vladimir Herzog archive partnership): Acervo Vladimir Herzog, the Herzog family archive initiative, is closely connected to IVH and shares archival and memory preservation mission. Listed as an enabling/adjacent organization to IVH's historical memory work.

Broad incumbents

• Reporters Without Borders (RSF): International press freedom NGO with global advocacy and journalist support programs. Comparable to IVH's journalism protection network and international advocacy work, but operating at a global rather than Brazilian scale.
• Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ): Global press freedom organization that documents attacks on journalists and advocates for their protection. Directly comparable to IVH's journalism protection program and the Rede Nacional alliance, though operating globally rather than Brazil-specifically.
• Amnesty International Brazil: Brazilian branch of global human rights organization with broad advocacy, campaigns, and research. Larger and more general-purpose than IVH, but directly comparable as a HR advocacy organization with major Brazil presence.

Emerging players

• Instituto Igarapé: Brazilian think tank focused on security, climate, and digital policy, with a strong human rights framing. Partial overlap with IVH on democracy, security, and public safety advocacy (e.g., IVH's seminar on public security and democracy).
• Instituto Unibanco / Instituto Natura (education-focused foundations): Brazilian education-focused nonprofits implementing large-scale school programs in partnership with state/municipal governments. Comparable to IVH's Respeitar é Preciso! in deploying partner-driven programs across public school networks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vladimirherzog

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Instituto Vladimir Herzog