The Global Resources Human Rights Archives and Documentation Program (HRADP) supports the gathering, preservation, and appropriate accessibility of archives and documentation regarding violations of human rights and legal proceedings in all world regions. Such documentation may include:
The activities of the project are to:
The Human Rights Archives and Documentation Program is a project of the Global Resource Network focused on the preservation of human rights-related documentation and evidence.
The program’s formation began at the 2007 public conference “Human Rights Archives and Documentation: Meeting the Needs of Research, Teaching, Advocacy and Social Justice [12],” organized by the Center for Human Rights Documentation and Research (CHRDR) at Columbia University and cosponsored by the Global Resources Network, the University of Texas Libraries, and the Center for the Study of Human Rights (Columbia).
The forum brought librarians and archivists together with Human Rights stakeholders from many disciplines to discuss the complex issues surrounding the “lifecycle” of Human Rights documentation:
Speakers from a range of backgrounds and experience, including creators of documentation, experts in the legal profession, archivists, librarians, and teachers of Human Rights spoke to these challenges during the public proceedings of the conference. The conference culminated in a working session during which attendees identified roles that libraries can play in ensuring the integrity and preservation of evidence and documentation.
The consensus of attendees was that libraries must support the effective collecting, safekeeping, and appropriate accessibility of archives and other materials that document violations of human rights and that support the prevention and prosecution of those abuses in all world regions.
HRADP undertakes activities based on the outcomes [13] of the GRN Forum on Human Rights Archives and Documentation.
This project [14], supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, is assessing the use of technology by human rights organizations to document human rights abuses.
Through this project [15], HRADP actively advocates for appropriate preservation of records of several international criminal tribunals established by the United Nations to investigate genocide and other human rights violations in Rwanda, Bosnia, Cambodia, and other locations.
Information on human rights archives, repositories, and organizations that focus on documentation and archives is currently found in the HRADP Workspace [16], a wiki accessible to participating libraries. Contact [17]the CRL representative for information on access to the Workspace.
Results of the 2007 GRN Forum “Human Rights Archives and Documentation: Meeting the Needs of Research, Teaching, Advocacy and Justice [13].”
Results of the 2008 Forum “Human Rights Archives and Documentation:Transforming Ideas into Practice [18]."
In 2012 CRL completed a two-year study, supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation [19], to examine how human rights organizations and activists use digital technologies to document human rights abuses.
Sponsored by the Foundation’s Human Rights and International Justice [20] program, the project analyzed technologies used by human rights monitoring and activist groups in three world regions, to determine how electronically or digitally produced documentation is collected, maintained and protected for long-term use.
A key focus of the The Human Rights Electronic Evidence Study was the electronically generated documentation of human rights abuses created and collected by organizations in Mexico, nations in the Russian Federation, and Rwanda. The purpose here was to examine how such documentation is collected and handled, and to ascertain to what extent current practices support the purposes of investigators, prosecutors, courts, international NGOs, and scholars. CRL's research also identified practical measures, tools, and standards for improving practice and ensuring the integrity and durability of electronic evidence.
For more information, please contact James Simon [21], Project Director.
Profiles and Reports
Human Rights Electronic Evidence Study - Final Report (February 2012) [22]
Thomson Report: Admissibility of electronic documentation as evidence in U.S. Courts [23]
Human Rights Resources Profile: Web Ecology Project [25]
Human Rights Resources Profile: WITNESS [26]
Human Rights Resources Profile: Ushahidi [27]
Human Rights Resource Profile: Amnesty International--ADAM & AIDAN [28]
An outcome of the Columbia University [12]Human Rights conference (Oct. 2007) was a recommendation that educational institutions with an interest in human rights teaching and research advocate that the U.S. take a position in favor of UN action to preserve the records of international criminal tribunals established by the United Nations to investigate genocide and other human rights violations in Rwanda, Bosnia, Cambodia, and other locations. Many of the courts have no mandate to preserve the sensitive and voluminous records of their proceedings for future use.
CRL continues to monitor the activities of the courts, the UN Working Group on Tribunals, and Advisory Committee on Archives, and will post updates in the HRADP community workspace.
* Update (12/22/10): On 22 December 2010, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution S/RES/1966 (2010) [29], establishing the international residual mechanism for criminal tribunals. The resolution:
The annexes to the Resolution firmly establish that the archives shall remain the property of the United Nations. The Mechanism shall be responsible for the management (including preservation, access, and security) of those archives.
* Update (12/2/09): The Secretary-General issued a report (S/2009/258 [30]) in May 2009 on the administrative and budgetary aspects of the options for possible locations for the archives of the ICTY and ICTR. The report states the case for the importance of the archives, provides a detailed description of the types of records generated by the Tribunals, and lays out the primary values and uses of such documentation. The report itself does not recommend a path for the residual mechanisms, but lays a case for various scenarios and resultant cost implications. These scenarios range from the minimal level of functions (trial of the remaining fugitives and maintenance of the archives) to the maximal level (multiple trials, protection of witnesses, etc). It also projects a scenario in which the archives are maintained separately from any other residual functions.The Report has been submitted to the Security Council for review.
* Update (12/19/08): The report of the Advisory Committee on Archives (ACA) was received by the Working Group on the International Tribunals, charged with considering the issues of the residual mechanisms of the courts. The (not publicly distributed) report addresses a number of issues, including the location, public access, and security of the archives of Tribunal, as well as preservation of the Tribunal’s records.
The Security Council requested the Secretary-General present a report within 90 days on the administrative and budgetary aspects of the options for possible locations for the Tribunals’ archives and the seat of the residual mechanism (UN Docs S/2008/849 [31] and S/PRST/2008/47 [32]).
* Update (8/25/2008): The Office of War Crimes Issues is awaiting the findings of the Advisory Committee chaired by Judge Richard Goldstone before issuing any recommendations on the matter. According to Security Council Report for August 2008 [33], “the Advisory Committee on Archives to the Registrars set up in October 2007 is expected to present its final recommendations to the tribunals’ registrars in the next few months.” (conversation with State Dept. Office of War Crimes 8/25/08. jts)
* Update (4/28/08): A response from Clint Williamson, U.S. Department of State, was received April 2008. Williamson response [34].
* 1/30/2008: The Center for Research Libraries, on behalf of several U.S. universities, wrote to the U.S. Department of State Office of War Crimes regarding this issue. View a copy of the letter, co-signed by 14 Provosts, here [35].
For general information about HRADP, please contact:
Sarah Van Deusen Philips [41], Project Coordinator
The Center for Research Libraries
6050 South Kenwood Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637-2804
U.S.A
(773) 955-4545 ext. 333
For more information on the Global Resources Network and its activities, contact: James Simon [21], GRN Director.
Links
[1] https://www.crl.edu/impact/unique-arab-diaspora-materials-saved-future-scholars
[2] https://www.crl.edu/impact/window-lives-ukrainian-refugees-1945-1954
[3] https://www.crl.edu/impact/brazilian-human-rights-evidence-preserved-nunca-mais-project
[4] https://www.crl.edu/impact
[5] https://www.crl.edu/focus/winter-2012
[6] https://www.crl.edu/focus/winter-2007-08
[7] https://www.crl.edu/focus/winter-2006-07
[8] https://www.crl.edu/collections/topics/official-gazettes
[9] https://www.crl.edu/collections/topics/latin-american-studies
[10] https://www.crl.edu/collections/topics/human-rights
[11] https://www.crl.edu/facets/human-rights
[12] http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/indiv/humanrights/news_events/2007/conference/index.html
[13] https://www.crl.edu/focus/article/411
[14] https://www.crl.edu/grn/hradp/electronic-evidence
[15] https://www.crl.edu/grn/hradp/ict
[16] http://workspace.crl.edu/display/HRADP/Human+Rights+Archives+Information+Portal
[17] https://www.crl.edu/grn/hradp/contact-hradp
[18] http://www.lib.uconn.edu/online/research/speclib/ASC/outreach/human_rights_symposium.htm
[19] http://www.macfound.org/
[20] http://www.macfound.org/human_rights
[21] mailto:simon@crl.edu
[22] https://www.crl.edu/sites/default/files/d6/attachments/pages/HREES_Final_Report_Public.pdf
[23] https://www.crl.edu/sites/default/files/d6/attachments/pages/Thomson-E-evidence-report.pdf
[24] https://www.crl.edu/sites/default/files/d6/attachments/pages/Rapoport-E-evidence-report.pdf
[25] https://www.crl.edu/sites/default/files/d6/attachments/pages/WEP_Report_5.7.pdf
[26] https://www.crl.edu/sites/default/files/d6/attachments/pages/HRResourcesProfile_WITNESS_7.27.10_0.pdf
[27] https://www.crl.edu/sites/default/files/d6/attachments/pages/Ushahidi_Profile_6%2012%2011_FINAL_0.pdf
[28] https://www.crl.edu/sites/default/files/d6/attachments/pages/AI_Profile_FINAL_8.11.11.pdf
[29] http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/unsc_resolutions10.htm
[30] http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/sgrep09.htm
[31] http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBcQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.securitycouncilreport.org%2Fatf%2Fcf%2F%257B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%257D%2FICTY%26R%2520S%25202008%2520849.pdf&rct=j&q=S%2F2008%2F849&ei=GF_6TYfqI8jz-gabmbC9Aw&usg=AFQjCNGX_dYww5N4CJqmkNfpDWQmfdug7w&sig2=6gZBC9c6gxUDaVlEebAVjA&cad=rja
[32] http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/unsc_pres_statements08.htm
[33] http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/site/c.glKWLeMTIsG/b.4374795/
[34] https://www.crl.edu/sites/default/files/d6/attachments/pages/Williamson_2008.pdf
[35] https://www.crl.edu/sites/default/files/d6/attachments/pages/Reilly_2008.pdf
[36] https://www.crl.edu/javascript%3AShowBigCharacter%28%27ldquo%27%29
[37] https://www.crl.edu/javascript%3AShowBigCharacter%28%27rdquo%27%29
[38] http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr170.html
[39] http://www.usip.org/library/truth.html
[40] http://www.asil.org/ajil/recon2.pdf
[41] mailto:svandeusen@crl.edu