Documentation projects: from proposals to reports

 

Information is a cornerstone in the struggle against discrimination

 

Information is a cornerstone in the struggle against discrimination

Facilitator: Judith Dueck HURIDOCS: Human Rights Information and

Documentation Systems International

A selection of slides used in the training workshop

July, 2008

Events happen, a negative situation exists

Fact Finding and MonitoringFact Finding and Monitoring: Info Gathering, Investigation etc.

Documentation: Organizing the elements of information

Research: Background and related information

Analysis: What does the data mean?

Report preparation

Intervention (legal, medical, humanitarian etc.)

Information dissemination and action for change

Assessment and strategy revision

3

FACT-FINDING and Monitoring

• FACT-FINDING -- identifying the violations in one event, and establishing the facts relevant to the violations.

• MONITORING -- the close observation of a situation or individual case (over long term).

4

Conducting investigations through trained observers (interviews, observation, on site inspections etc.)

Placing skilled workers in strategic areas to collect and document information on acts as they occur

Hot lines

Cameras, tape recorders, cel phones, PDAs

Using a low-profile fact-finding delegation consisting of persons from the locality (Low pressure, low publicity)

Using a high-level delegation of local well-known personalities

Using an international delegation

Trial observations and prison visits

Non-governmental tribunals and inquiry commissions

Surveys, research, examination of primary documents

Forensic investigations (disinterment, autopsy)

Getting the facts Getting the facts

5

Fact-Finding

• Acts committed (single or multiple), including

updates on developments• Victims (individuals or groups)• Perpetrators (individuals or groups) including

respective levels of involvement• Details of the event and context

• The interventions carried out on the victims’ behalf

• Sources of information (e.g. witnesses)

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What is high quality information?

• First-hand (not rumour or hearsay)

• Detailed

• Internally consistent

• Corroborated from several angles

• Demonstrates a pattern

• Fresh

7

Sources of bias

The sample does not reflect the whole Interaction interviewer/interviewed Respondents report inaccurately on

purpose Cultural attitudes, inattention, lack of

understanding, pressure of time and place Inability to remember Lack of understanding of question Ideological bias of data collector, or

sources

8

Confidentiality

Ensuring that your sources’ identity remain secret when they have asked for anonymity or you deem the situation too dangerous to release such information

9

Gender / orientation Sensitivity

• Ensuring that rights are respected regardless of gender or orientation

• Ensuring that violations and discrimination are recognised and properly documented regardless of gender or orientation

• Ensuring that information is handled sensitively with respect to gender and orientation issues

10

Supporting materials:

• Hospital or clinic reports

• Correspondence (letters etc.)

• Police reports

• Official responses to allegations

• Newspaper articles & other news Media

• Interview texts

• Photographs, videos

11

Common fact-finding difficulties

• Lack of access to area• Threat to personal security• Threat to security of witnesses• Gathering unreliable information• Reluctance of a witness to provide information• Lack of awareness concerning human rights• Lack of training or resources for fact-finding• Difficulty asking sensitive questions

Session 5

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Monitoring

May involve collecting a large quantity of data Requires constant or periodic investigation and

documentation of developments Uses standards or norms to assess the situation Results in a report, which provides a basis for

further action

13

Kinds of Monitoring

• case monitoring

• situation monitoring

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Who Monitors?

Set standardsMonitor compliance of governments with their treaty obligationsMonitor certain situations involving violations

Encourage own governments to adopt international standardsMonitor compliance of their own governments with treaty obligations Monitor violations

Lobby with IGOs toward setting standardsLobby with governments toward adopting international standardsMonitor compliance of governments with their treaty obligations Monitor violations and casesEnhance public awareness

INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS (IGOs)

GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS (GOs)

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS (NGOs)

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What are the standards or norms?

DOMESTIC

STANDARDS DOMESTIC

APPLICATION

UNIVERSAL

STANDARDS

Monitoring is done to see whether there are gaps between universally-accepted standards and those set through domestic (national) legislation.

. . . or between domestic standards and how they are applied or met in reality.

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Regulating mechanisms

state

people

ExternalMechanisms:• Other States•U.N. Organs such as UPR, Human Rights Council, Office of the High Commissioner• UN treaty body mechanisms: commissions, rapporteurs, special representatives, etc International media•IGOs

InternalMechanisms:• Parliament• Judiciary• Ombudsmen, NHRI, etc• Civil society• media

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INTERVENTION AND COMMUNICATION

Hardcopy storageDigital storage

INTAKE OF INITIALINFORMATION

FACT-FINDING or Monitoring

ANALYSIS TO ARRIVE AT FINDINGS

ANALYSIS OF TRENDSAND PATTERNS

Interviews, Surveys, videos, other info gathering techniques.

ORGANISING AND RECORDING

Reports and Advocacy

Proposals

local background information

local legal infrastructure

governmental organizations

social services agencies

international organizations

university libraries, public libraries

Co-operation with other NGOs

Law offices

Media reports (papers, radio, T.V. etc.)

the Internet. HuriSearch. http://www.hurisearch.org/

ResearchResearch

Source: European Handbook on Equality Data

Why?

• To provide a historical record• To assist and pressure governments in

applying international standards or adopting new legislation

• To undertake domestic legal actions• To engage in campaigns with the intent of

enhancing public awareness• To help particular victims• To provide early warning of potential dangers• To engage in change strategies

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Why?

What change do you want?

Monitoring and Fact finding

AnalysisResearch

Documenting (organizing)

Strategizing Report preparation

InterventionsInformation dissemination

Action for change andEvidence based advocacy

Assessment and strategy revision

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Effective Action for change

What are the official standards?(domestic law, international standards, norms)

What can be reasonably expected?

What is the situation?

What are the facts?

What is the trend?

What should be…. What isWhat should be…. What isWhat should be…. What isWhat should be…. What is

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Three kinds of obligations

• To respect: to abstain from doing anything that violates the integrity of an individual, or group, or infringes on their freedom.

• To protect: to take the necessary measures necessary to prevent others from violating the rights of an individual or group.

• To fulfill: to ensure opportunities for each person to obtain satisfaction of needs recognized by human rights instruments that cannot be secured through personal efforts alone.

24

Two kinds of violationsActs of commission: direct commission

of a violation (police beatings)

Acts of ommission: failure to provide adequate protection or take adequate step to prevent the violation (police refusing to protect while others beat)

Acts of Commission

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Types of Acts: Acts of Commission

• Physical attacks

• Distribution of hate propaganda

• Discrimination in hiring

• Discrimination in School admission

• Passing laws that discriminate

• Implementing discriminatory laws or policies

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Types of Acts: Acts of Omission

• Failure by law enforcement bodies to protect victims against attacks by discriminatory groups

• Failure by the legislature to enact laws that protect citizens from discrimination

• Failure to remove discriminatory laws

Events happen, a negative situation exists

Fact Finding and Monitoring: Info Gathering, Investigation, Interviewing etc.

Research: Background and related information

Documentation: organizing elements of information

Analysis: What does the data mean?

Report preparation

Intervention (legal, medical, humanitarian etc.)

Information dissemination and action for change

Assessment and strategy revision

29

What happened? Who was involved?

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What information do we need ?• Information about the victim

• Information about the perpetrator

• Information about witnesses, observers, medics etc.(source / corroboration of information)

• Information about the act

• Information about the background or surrounding circumstances (event)

• Information about any interventions

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The Person

• Victim• Perpetrator• Source of information• Intervening Party

• Individual• Group • Organization

• Anybody involved in anywayPage 36 and 57-63

32

What info do you need to get?

1. Victim – person or organization

2. Perpetrator – person or organization (official or not)

3. Source of information (persons, observers, people, organizations etc.)

4. Intervening parties (legal, humanitarian, medical, social services, individuals)

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• can be classified (e.g. beating, arrest, torture, execution)

• very specific, occurred at a specific time

ACT

• Has broader scope (starting and ending dates, general location, etc.)

• Has some sort of identifier (event title like “The Case of J. Doe)

• Usually includes serveral acts and general situation information

EVENT

Acts and Events

34

EVENTS STANDARD FORMATS

PERSON is an individual or group who plays the role

of Victim, Source, Perpetrator,

Intervening

Party or other organisation or

person

ACT is a very

specific occurrence within an

Event

Act links Victims to

Events

EVENT is a general

occurrence which may have one or more Acts

Three formatsThree formatsThree formatsThree formats

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Documenting violations

The Person

903 Name

908 Confidentiality

910 Address

911 Date of Birth

912 Place of Birth

916 Sexual Orientation

918 Civil Status

919 Dependants

920 Education

922 Occupation

924 Health

926 Physical Description

928 Date Deceased

930 Group Description

931 Number of Persons in Group

940 Religion

941 Citizenship

942 Ethnic Background

945 Language

947 National Origin

The Event

102 Event Title

111 Geographical Term

112 Local Geographical Area113 Initial Date

114 Final Date

115 Event Description116 Impact of Event151 Violation Status152 Violation index153 Rights Affected

The Act2114 Method of Violence2116 Physical Consequences2117 Psychological Consequences2118 Age at Time of Victimisation2154 National Legislation2155 International Instruments

102 Event Title Desacula et al. 111 Geographical Term Philippines 112 Local Geographical Area National Capital Region 113 Initial Date 18 11 1987115 Event Description Edgar Desacula was arrested together with Ramon Aguilar by members of the Pasay City Police Force at Roxas Blvd at about 13:00. They were brought to the police headquarters for questioning. Aguilar was released while Desacula was passed to the Intelligence and Special Operations Group (ISOG) which conducted tactical interrogation and subjected him to torture for a period of 2 days. Desacula continues to be detained.150 Remarks. The events happened after the Ministry of Defence announced that it will take stronger steps against militant labour.151 Violation Status Confirmed 152 Violation Index Violent or coercive act by state agents153 Rights Affected Liberty of the person / Freedom from torture 154 HURIDOCS Index Detention] / Torture 155 Local Index Labour militancy 165 Comments This event should be investigated further to see if it is connected with thereported raid of the office of the Victory Labour Union 166 Supporting Documents Photo 87-331167 Files 87-NCR-010 172 Monitoring Status Active

Sampling of Available Fields

37

What fields do you need?

What fields might you choose for information about the victim, the perpetrator, the act, the event

- Employment or housing discrimination - Discrimination in prisons or by police- Discrimination in health services or schools- Hate speech in the media or from government

sources

Use Events Formats pages 32- 36

38

39Opening screen of WinEvsys

40

Microthesauri 48 Lists HURIDOCS INDEX TERMS RIGHTS TYPOLOGY TYPES OF ACTS METHODS OF VIOLENCE INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTSEDUCATION OCCUPATIONS (ILO CATEGORIES) PHYSICAL DESCRIPTORS RELIGIONS ETHNIC GROUPS LANGUAGES GEOGRAPHICAL TERMS TYPES OF SOURCE MATERIAL TYPES OF LOCATIONS DEGREES OF INVOLVEMENT TYPES OF INTERVENTION RELEVANT CHARACTERISTICS TYPES OF PERPETRATORS STATUS AS VICTIM LEGAL COUNSELTYPES OF COURTSAUTOPSY RESULTS STATEMENTS SIGNEDMEDICAL ATTENTIONSEXUAL ORIENTATION

Sampling of Lists Available

Event classification (sample of fields)102 Event title: Make up a name 108 Confidentiality: (yes or no)

112 Local Geographic area: (province, district, village or town)

113 Initial date of event : ddmmyyyy 114 Final date of event:

151 Violation Status: (MT 41 – p 164)

154 Index terms (MT 1 – page 9):

153 Rights affected (MT 3 – page 20)

161 Date of entry: today ddmmyyyyhhmm 162 Entered by: you

Act Identify and describe in a few words (by state actors or those in authority)

Date PerpetratorMT 24 p. 145

Type of Act MT4 page 27

Type of PlaceMT 17 Page 131

Early morning arrest 050219990800

police Arrest (03)

Victim’s home

Events happen, a negative situation exists

Fact Finding and Monitoring

Documentation: Organizing information

Research: Background and related information

Analysis: What does the data mean?

Report preparation

Intervention (legal, medical, humanitarian etc.)

Information dissemination, action for change and evidence based advocacy

Assessment and strategy revision

43

Why do we need to analyze data?

We need give undeniable, credible evidence • Find out what really happened• Convince legislators• Arouse other human rights workers to action• Provide evidence for indictment and prosecution of

perpetrators in tribunals and national courts• Provide information for truth and reconciliation

commissions• Get cooperation from media in spreading the word• Counter the claims of perpetrators• Provide an undeniable record to bring closure to

victims and survivors• Manage your own operations

44

How does data analysis help us achieve these goals?

When we analyze data, we can:• Show the pattern over time• Assess the magnitude and scope of human rights

violations• Find patterns of violation that help identify specific

perpetrators• Determine the different patterns of violations against

different ethnic groups, sexes, age groups, orientations etc• Relate violations to the actions of perpetrating regimes,

organizations groups, or individuals• Show how acts of repression are coordinated throughout a

country, region, or in time• Give substantive evidence against perpetrators without

revealing the identity of witnesses• Provide analytical measures of the extent to which rights

are granted or denied•

Raw data in a tableName Cause Name Cause Ngudle suicide by hanging Mazwembe suicide by hanging Merhope not given Mbatha suicide by hanging Tylta suicide by hanging Mzolo not given Saloojle fell 7 floors during

interrogation Tshwane not given

Gaga natural causes Mamasila not given Hoye natural causes Mosala not given Hamakwayo suicide by hanging Tshalzlbane not given Shonyeka suicide Botha fell down stairwell Leong Pin suicide by hanging Ntshuntsha not given Ah Yan suicide by hanging Ndzaga not given Madiba suicide by hanging Malel not given Tubakwe suicide by hanging Mabelane not given Not given not given Joyi not given Kgoathe slipped in shower Malinga not given Modipane slipped in shower Khoza suicide by hanging Lenkoe suicide by hanging Mashabane suicide Mayekiso suicide Mabija fell six floors during

interrogation Monakglotla thrombosis Loza not given Haron fell down stairs Hafferjee not given Cuthsela natural causes Emzizi not given Timol leapt from 10th story

window during interrogation

Mogatusi suffocation in epileptic fit

Mdull fell against chair during scuffle

Biko injured in scuffle

Mohapi suicide by hanging

From: Spirer & Spirer. Intermediate Data Analysis for Human rights

Controlled vocab and statsControlledVocabulary Cause

Stated Cause

Fell Fell 7 floors during interrogation, fell against chair during scuffle, fell down stairs, fell down stairwell, fell six floors during interrogation

Scuffle Injured in scuffle

Jumped Leapt from 10th story window during interrogation

Natural Natural causes

Not given Not given

Slipped Slipped in shower

Suffocation Suffocation in epileptic fit

Suicide Suicide, suicide by hanging

Thrombosis Thrombosis

Cause Number %

Not given 16 36%

Suicide 15 33%

Fell 5 11%

Natural 3 7%

Slipped 2 4%

Jumped 1 2%

Scuffle 1 2%

Suffocation 1 2%

Thrombosis 1 2%

Total 45 100%

Reasons, numbers and percentages of all deaths in prison X.

Based on raw data from government sources

47

TABLE Number of physical assaults in Prison X

Year Number

1995 26

1996 41

1997 12

1998 97

1999 83

2000 11

48

100 ----------------------------------------------------------- 90 ----------------------------------------------------------- 80 ----------------------------------------------------------- 70 ----------------------------------------------------------- 60 ----------------------------------------------------------- 40 ----------------------------------------------------------- 30 ----------------------------------------------------------- 20 ----------------------------------------------------------- 10 ----------------------------------------------------------- 0 ----------------------------------------------------------- 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 YEARS

Graph 1. Number of physical assaults in two prisons

Line Graphs

Prison A

Prison B

49Not Private Enough: Homophobic and injurious speech in the Lithuanian media Lithuanian gay league

BAR Graph

50

Town Y(28%)

town X(16%)

Town W(64%)

Power ReactorIndustrialMedicalGovernment

Town Z(2%)

Comparison of homophobically motivated physical incidents in 4 towns.

Pie graphs compare parts of a whole

Percentages of total incidents from all 4 towns

Between January 2005 and now, have you experienced any of the following situations on the grounds that you were

known or suspected to be a homosexual or bisexual?

– verbal harassment/aggression– insults, humiliation, ridicule– spread of negative opinions about you– threats– hateful letters to you or to your close

relatives– blackmail– vandalism, devastation of property– graffiti/posters/leaflets about you– other forms of psychological

harassment: please, specify– no– other answer: please specify

Report on discrimination based on sexual orientation in Poland for the year 2005 by Campaign Against Homophobia (KPH, Poland)

52

The application should not exceed 5 pages (+ budget). Please, answer all questions following the structure

Project title:

Planned period of implementation:

Name of the implementing organization:

Contact information (post, e-mail, phone):

Contact person:

Date of organisaton’s registration with the authorities:

Date of project submission to ILGA-Europe:

1.Project summary (maximum 100 words)!!! 2.Description of the implementing organization:a.What kind of organization are you (mission, vision, values)? b.How long have you been in existence?c.What is the structure of your organization (board, staff, volunteers, members, include numbers)?d.What kind of activities does your organization undertake?

Credibility?

Reliability?

Can you do it?

What is the project?

Why is this project important?

What will it change?

53

Objective

what is the purpose?

Methodology

how will you do it?

Output

what is the tangible output?

Change strategy

How will you use the info to effect change?

Success evaluation

How will you measure your success?

Impact

What is the overall impact you expect?

54

• Why am I writing this? • What do I want to achieve? • Who am I writing for? • What do I want people to think, feel,

know or do after they have read it? • What would be the best form for it to be

written in? An article, pamphlet, poster, etc?

With thanks to: CIVICUS Better Communications and Planning Civil Society Toolkits for some materials in this section. http://www.civicus.org/new/civicus_toolkit_project.asp

55

Why do we write reports?• Communicate information and ideas about your work,

and that of your organisation.• Reflect and explain progress with work – and lack of

progress.• Make it easier for your organisation to assess progress

and plan anew.• Promote accountability.• Promote discussion and informed decision-making.• Emphasise problems and make recommendations.• Share information, learnings and experiences. • Provide analysis and offer insights into the way forward.• Help with effective and strategic planning.• Help members to participate in the democratic

processes of your organisation.

56

Doing an audience analysis

Step One: Distinguish between your various audiences

Step Two: Prioritise within your audience

Step Three: Picture your audience

Step Four: Use the audience analysis matrix

Adapted from CIVICUS Better Communications and Planning Civil Society Toolkits

57

How do people read reports?

• Title

• Headings and subheadings

• Introduction and conclusion

• Graphs and visuals

• First sentences

58

Structuring the report• A meaningful and interesting title.

• The date and author of the report.

• The contents list, if it is a fairly long report.

• A summary of the main point/s of the report

• Body: • logical flow of items • meaningful headings and sub-headings • Visuals

• A conclusion, which could be your recommendations section.

1 Get started using tools like thinking, talking and reading, freewriting, and mindmaps. Basically, brainstorming. Use these tools throughout the rest of your writing process.

3 Do an audience analysis.

2 Determine why you are writing. What do you want to achieve?

4 Start to plan your writing from a mindmap. Organise your thoughts into an outline. What else needs doing? Include a writing process schedule. Add a rough introductory statement and conclusion.

5 Start writing your first draft. Let it flow. Don’t edit. Concentrate on getting your ideas down. Complete your first draft and then take a break from it. Let it breathe. Let your mind work on it unconsciously for a bit.

6 Go back to your first draft. Revise it. Look back at your audience analysis. Remind yourself of your objective. Has it stayed the same? Will you achieve it if you follow the route you are going?

8 Get feedback on your writing. Strengthen your writing through revising into new drafts. Write the introduction and conclusion. Read it aloud to yourself, and or others.

7 Rework the report into stronger drafts. Cut out what you do not need. Add in what’s missing. Scan for correcting grammar and spelling. Do necessary changes.

9 Edit your writing. Put yourself in your readers’ shoes. Make it powerful and easy to read. Check your language, style and tone.

10 The final polish. Make sure your writing looks good and is easy to read. Get someone else to proofread

11 Follow on with design and layout; another proofreading and checking, and distribution.

Adapted from CIVICUS Better Communications and Planning Civil Society Toolkits

The schedule12. Distribution date 29 Nov.

11. Printing22-29 Nov.

10. Final proof reading21-22 Nov.

8. Proof reading6-7 Nov.

2. Work out why and what you are writing7-8 Oct.

9. Design and layout 7-21 Nov.

7. Editing30 Oct. to 7 Nov.

5. Get feedback on early draft 11-16 Oct.

4. Plan your writing – outline and schedule 9-11 Oct.

6. Strengthen drafts 16-30 Oct.

3. Do an audience analysis8-9 Oct.

1. Use your getting started tools – freewriting, mindmaps 1-7 Oct.

Adapted from CIVICUS Better Communications and Planning Civil Society Toolkits

1 Oct. - Start Project

29 Nov Finish project

61

Making the argument

A good recommendation:a precise request/recommendationto a specific authority/audience

4 types of arguments:LegalMoralHuman consequencesSelf-interest

Each report has:An objective!!An audience!!

62

Acknowledgements and Resources• ILGA Europe human rights documentation fund

http://www.ilga-europe.org/europe/funding_capacity_building/funding_opportunities/ilga_europe_human_rights_violations_documentation_funds

• ILGA Europe completed projects and current projects http://www.ilga-europe.org/europe/funding_capacity_building/funding_opportunities/

ilga_europe_human_rights_violations_documentation_funds • HuriTools at HURIDOCS http://www.huridocs.org/tools/overview • Human Rights Tools http://www.humanrightstools.org/

• UKEWLI handbook for monitoring and documenting human rights violations in Africa. Amnesty International Dutch Section, 2000 http://www.amnesty.nl/in_actie_vervolg/spa_downloads#artikel10075

• European handbook on equality data. European Commission. http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/fundamental_rights/pdf/pubst/stud/hb07_en.pdfv

• Spirer & Spirer. Intermediate Data Analysis for Human rights. https://courseworks.columbia.edu/cms/outview/courseenter.cfm?no=INAFU8165_001_2002_3

• Ball, Spirer & Spirer. Making the case. https://courseworks.columbia.edu/cms/outview/courseenter.cfm?no=INAFU8165_001_2002_3

• CIVICUS Better Communications and Planning Civil Society Toolkits http://www.civicus.org/new/civicus_toolkit_project.asp

• Natalie Goldberg. Writing Down the Bones. Page 8. Published by Shambhala, 1986.• HuriSearch www.hurisearch.org . Searches 4500 human rights sites in 77 languages.• Handbook on Observations of Pride Marches by Christine Loudes. ILGA Europe