WITNESS
WITNESS helps people use video and technology to protect and defend human rights, leading a global movement for change. The organization collaborates with various partners and communities worldwide to document abuses, train legal professionals, and develop resources for archiving and fact-checking.
Company Overview
WITNESS is an organization dedicated to helping people use video and technology to protect and defend human rights. As a leader of a global movement, WITNESS leverages video to drive human rights change, earning recognition such as the Peabody Global Impact Award. By partnering with various organizations, WITNESS creates resources and technologies that support efforts in archiving, OSINT, fact-checking, and documentation.
Global Initiatives
WITNESS has initiated and collaborated on several global projects to enhance human rights documentation. Notable initiatives include developing resources for archiving and fact-checking related to the Gaza war with SMEX and Meedan, and supporting the independent Syrian Archive in creating a verified video database. The organization also partakes in the 'All Eyes on the Amazon' coalition, which uses drones and satellite imagery to document environmental and human rights crimes.
Deepfakes and AI
In response to the growing concern of deepfakes and AI-related manipulations, WITNESS launched a microsite dedicated to these issues. This site aims to educate and provide resources to identify and combat deepfakes, which pose significant risks to the integrity of human rights documentation.
Training and Resources
WITNESS offers extensive training programs and resources to empower communities and professionals. Collaborations include working with TRIAL International to train lawyers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on using video as evidence, and organizing an Annual Video Camp with EngageMedia focusing on video basics, organizing, and advocacy. Additionally, WITNESS has developed the 'Eyes on ICE' project to document abuses against immigrants and has translated resources into multiple languages including Khmer, Burmese, Thai, Hindi, and Vietnamese.
Community-based Projects
WITNESS collaborates with local communities to address specific human rights issues. In Rio de Janeiro’s favelas, the organization helps residents use video to demand accountability for police violence. In Mexico, WITNESS supported the indigenous Juba Wajiin community to halt illegal mining operations. These initiatives highlight the organization's commitment to empowering communities to document and contest human rights violations directly affecting their lives.