Mobile phone footage of atrocities and human rights abuses is often inadmissible in trials and investigations because it is difficult to verify its origins and authenticity. eyeWitness to Atrocities (eyeWitness) was launched in 2015 as an initiative of the International Bar Association (IBA) to solve this problem. With the eyeWitness to Atrocities camera app (Android only), documenters can capture verifiable footage of international atrocity crimes, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and torture. Unlike footage captured with regular camera apps, eyeWitness footage is easily verifiable for courts of law and can be used as evidence for both accountability and advocacy. In consultation with app users, eyeWitness' expert legal team also helps to ensure that this footage is actively used for justice. For example, in 2018, eyeWitness photos and videos were used to help convict two warlords of crimes against humanity in Democratic Republic of the Congo. This was a historical moment as it was the first time a court of law had accepted mobile phone footage as evidence of core international crimes. Furthermore, whilst the app can be utilised independently, eyeWitness partners with many of the civil society groups, journalists, and civilians using the app to provide additional documentation training, legal expertise, and support. eyeWitness supports hundreds of human rights defenders in countries around the world, including Nigeria, The Gambia, Senegal, Palestine, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ukraine.
