New technologies –if used right– are vital tools in the
fight against human rights violations
GENEVA (19 June 2015) – The United Nations Special
Rapporteur on summary executions, Christof Heyns, has called on the UN system
and other international human rights bodies to “catch up” with rapidly
developing innovations in human rights fact-finding and investigations. “The
digital age presents challenges that can only be met through the smart use of
digital tools,” he said.
In his latest report to the Human Rights Council, Mr.
Heyns highlighted that information and communication technologies (ICTs) —the
hardware and software that produce and transmit information in the digital
space— can play an increasing role in the protection of all human rights,
including the right to life, by reinforcing the role of ‘civilian witnesses’ in
documenting rights violations.
“We have all seen how the actions of police officers and
other who use excessive force are captured on cell phones and lead to action
against the perpetrators. Billions of people around the world carry a powerful
weapon to capture such events in their pockets,” the expert said. “The fact
that this is well-known can be a significant deterrent to abuses.”
The expert described in his report how various
organizations are developing alert applications that journalists, human rights
defenders and others can use to send an emergency message (along with GPS
co-ordinates) to their friends and colleagues if they feel in immediate danger.
“New information tools can also empower human rights
investigations and help to foster accountability where people have lost their
lives or were seriously injured,” the Special Rapporteur noted.
The use of other video technologies, ranging from CCTV
cameras to body-worn “cop cams” can further contribute to filling information
gaps. The use of resources such as satellite imagery to verify such videos, or
sometime to show evidence of violations themselves, is also an important
dimension.
However, despite the many advantages offered by ICTS for
the protection of human rights, Mr. Heyns also warned that it will be
short-sighted not to see the risks. “Those with the power to violate human
rights can easily use peoples’ emails and other communications to target them
and also to violate their privacy,” he said.
The human rights expert also noted that the fact that
people can use social media to organise spontaneous protests can lead
authorities to perceive a threat – and to over-react.
Moreover, there is a danger that what is not captured on
video is not taken seriously. “We must
guard against a mind-set that ‘if it is not digital it did not happen,’” he
stressed.
In his report, Mr. Heyns also cautioned that not all
communities, and not all parts of the world, are equally connected, and draws
special attention to the fact that “the ones that not connected are often in
special need of protection.”
“There is still a long way to go for all of us to
understand fully how we can use these evolving and exciting but in some ways
also scary new tools to their best effect,” the expert stated, noting that not
all parts of the international human rights community are fully aware of the
power and pitfalls of digital fact-finding.
The Special Rapporteur made several recommendations in
his report, including that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights appoints as soon as possible a specialist in digital evidence
to assist it in making the best use of ICTs.
(*) Check the Special Rapporteur’s report:
http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?si=A/HRC/29/37
ENDS
The Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or
arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns (South Africa), is a director of the
Institute for International and Comparative Law in Africa and Professor of
Human Rights Law at the University of Pretoria, where he has also directed the
Centre for Human Rights, and has engaged in wide-reaching initiatives on human
rights in Africa. He has advised a number of international, regional and
national entities on human rights issues.
Learn more, log on to:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Executions/Pages/SRExecutionsIndex.aspx
The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the
Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest
body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name
of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that
address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of
the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not
UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from
any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
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