The benefits of open source information in investigations of violations of international criminal, human rights, and humanitarian law are widely acknowledged and well-documented.
However, issues relating to establishing dedicated open source investigation operational capacities have garnered less attention, particularly in defining relevant processes and building the necessary infrastructure to support open source investigators. These issues are not unique to any one organization, but impact investigative and accountability bodies involved in open source activities worldwide.
To address this gap, the IIIM invited accountability- and investigative-focused international organizations, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and civil society organizations (CSOs) to a closed workshop on information and evidence management in the context of open source investigations. The event itself was situation-neutral and did not involve sharing substantive information about any open source investigations or analyses.
This workshop provided participants with a unique opportunity to share best practices and lessons learned from leading organizations in the field. Case studies and panel discussions addressed shed light on various issues.
This report summarizes the discussions that took place.
To read the full report click here.