We have one agenda: To protect the human rights of all.

The Humans for Rights network is a project focused on documenting incidents where the human rights of Asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants in Europe are violated. Our intention is to expose and evidence that this is a situation characterised by widespread human rights violations. We work closely with organisations and individuals on the ground to provide training in testimony taking, documentation of incidents and conditions using film and photography, and the ethics of witnessing human rights violations. Our aim is to become a point of contact, for those witnessing these violations in order to advise on how to document them, as well as for those directly suffering them, to build a body evidence for use in positively impacting the situation, and holding those responsible to account. We are developing an electronic system for use by witnesses and victims of these violations, in order to provide witnesses and victims with an accessible practical and empowering way of bearing witness to these violations and incidents. The system is a combination of an app, an online platform used by organisations to access the information that they have gathered, and a way in which refugees themselves can access the system, in order to access their personal files. We are working on creating a full range of tools for evidence gathering, in order to meet the needs of various different individuals in numerous situations. The proposed full system will feature a testimony template, photo and video function as well as multiple other methods of alerting us of an incident or violation, for use by asylum seekers and migrants themselves. We have also begun distributing camera phones to refugees and migrants in Calais, in order to allow them to film incidents of police brutality. We intend to use film and photography to shed light on hard to reach issues and locations, either ourselves, or by giving those the tools they need to record what they are witnessing or experiencing. Further to the electronic collection of evidence, we will also be able to travel to locations where particular issues are arising, to assist those operating on the ground with documentation of the situation, as well as targeted investigation of specific issues where urgent action is required. We aim to give a voice to the voice less, to provide a place where they are able to speak freely about what they are enduring. We will use the information collected to inform decision makers in improving the situation faced by asylum seekers and migrants within Europe. We will release information into the public domain, where appropriate, to shape public opinion and shed light on the situation faced by those seeking protection in Europe. Where needed, the information collected will be assessed by lawyers and used for legal challenges. By collecting these testimonies and other forms of evidence, we aim to humanise the situation and to represent an opportunity for people to speak out about their individual experiences. We wish to ensure that people are given the opportunity to talk about what is happening to them. We will also analyse and present information that illustrates the situations as a whole, but an individuals experience is the key focus, in order to bring about justice for the victim and accountability for the perpetrators. The project is currently running in Northern France, with the next planned location being Paris or Ventamiglia.