Science for Human Rights
The Science for Human Rights (SHR) project leverages technological and scientific progress for human rights advocacy and campaigning. We currently focus on utilizing geospatial technologies like satellite imagery for human rights monitoring and conflict prevention. These new tools allow us to gain access to previously inaccessible conflict zones, provide compelling visual evidence and present information in a new and engaging way, all of which assists our activists in their campaigning efforts.
To read our current stories, please visit our blog at http://blog.amnestyusa.org/tag/science/
Darfur
 ©2009 Digital Globe. All Rights Reserved. Produced by AAAS | UPDATED: EYES ON DARFUR. In 2007, Amnesty International USA obtained evidence of destruction in Darfur using high resolution satellite imagery, creating the Eyes on Darfur project. Eyes on Darfur provides unimpeachable evidence of the atrocities being committed in Darfur, enabling action by private citizens, policy makers, and international courts. The project also broke new ground in protecting human rights by allowing people around the world to literally "watch over" and protect twelve intact, but highly vulnerable, villages using satellite technology. New images obtained in 2008 and 2009 show recent damage on some of these villages, demonstrating the ongoing insecurity and violence in the region. » Read More Info on Darfur |
Using Science for Human Rights
CHADSince February 2008, thousands of homes and other structures have been demolished in several neighborhoods of N'Djamena, Chad. Tens of thousands of people are now homeless throughout the city after being forcibly evicted. Satellite imagery allowed Amnesty International to demonstrate the frightening pace of these housing demolitions.» Read More |  Click on the image to enlarge |
SRI LANKADuring the conflict in Sri Lanka, government restrictions and propaganda from both sides led to a lack of access and information, exacerbated by conflicting reports over civilian casualty figures. Using geospatial technologies - in particular Google Earth - allowed us to offer our activists a glimpse of the war zone.» Read More |  |
GEORGIADuring the Russian-Georgian conflict in August 2008, Amnesty International USA acquired satellite imagery to analyze and document the destruction to Tskhinvali and 24 of its surrounding villages. Much of the observed damage occurred after the major hostilities of the first two days of the conflict.» Read More |  © 2009 ImageSat. All Rights Reserved. Produced by AAAS. |
LEBANONAmnesty International USA acquired satellite imagery of the destruction in parts of Beirut City before and after the conflict. Analysis provided by the American Association for the Advancement of Science stated that some 250 multi-story buildings containing at least 4,000 apartments were destroyed.» Read More |  © 2009 DigitalGlobe. All Rights Reserved. Produced by AAAS. |
INDIVIDUALS AT RISKAmnesty International USA uses satellite imagery to provide visual evidence of prisons and detention centers. An image of the Insein Prison, for example, provides background information on prisoners of conscience in Myanmar.» Read More |  ©2009 Digital Globe. All Rights Reserved. Produced by AAAS |
ZIMBABWEIn 2006, Amnesty International USA used satellite imagery to record the demolition of the Porta Farm community. The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights worked with Amnesty International to present their findings during litigation in the African Court on Human and People's Rights.» Read More |  ©2009 Digital Globe. All Rights Reserved. Produced by AAAS |
VIDEO: GEOSPATIAL REVOLUTION PROJECTGeospatial Technologies is a general term that involves information that is assigned to specific locations. It is well-developed in environmental science, conservation, humanitarian relief and many other sections with an emerging re-application to human rights. It is comprised of a wide range of technologies, methods and tools, including remote sensing, geo-positional tools, mapping, geocoding, and remote sensing. These have all been used to assist in documentation and research, producing hard evidence while refuting false claims. It has more recently increased the ability to monitor and protect populations at risk, producing advanced warnings of crisis for prevention methods. And lastly, the information can be shared to provoke activism, providing a visual to restricted areas within certain countries. Currently, our work is supported through a grant from the Oak Foundation, shared with our science partner - AAAS's Science and Human Rights Program (http://shr.aaas.org/). |
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