The International Bar Association (IBA)-founded eyeWitness to Atrocities (eyeWitness) app and organisation have been shortlisted in the ‘tech for good’ category of the 2024 UK tech awards, amid an ever more difficult landscape of international conflicts. These awards celebrate outstanding achievement in this rapidly evolving sector and the ‘tech for good’ category highlights the non-financial benefits that technology can provide to society. Heidrick & Struggles has sponsored the category award, while JP Morgan is the overall sponsor of the awards.

For almost a decade eyeWitness has played a pivotal role in supporting frontline documenters in capturing images of potential international crimes and human rights violations to a standard required to be used as evidence in a court of law.

Created to address the verification issue around fake or tampered with images, the eyeWitness technology is free for anyone to download who is using an Android-enabled smartphone. The eyeWitness app is designed to automatically collect and embed into file information, GPS coordinates, date and time, sensory and movement data, and surrounding objects such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi networks. The user then uploads the images to a secure repository hosted by IBA partner LexisNexis.

Mark Ellis, IBA Executive Director commented: ‘We are honoured that eyeWitness has been shortlisted alongside fellow nominees that are doing such great work in the category of “tech for good”. The overriding mission of eyeWitness is to contribute to the pursuit of accountability for the gravest crimes in international law including war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. This award category raises awareness of technology being used for good by assisting in the gathering of potential evidence to bring to justice perpetrators of international crimes.’

‘We are honoured to be shortlisted for the tech for good award’, said Carrie Bowker, Director of eyeWitness. ‘This recognition highlights the critical role of eyeWitness’ technology in capturing authenticated audiovisual evidence of atrocity crimes. The success of eyeWitness is a powerful reminder that technology has the potential to break down barriers, even in the most challenging environments, and make a tangible impact in the pursuit of justice.’

Ian McDougall, President of LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation said: ‘The eyeWitness to Atrocities app is an innovative technological solution to a crucial Rule of Law issue; the provision of access to remedy is a key element of a prosperous and stable society. LexisNexis is proud to be a technology partner to the IBA to help to deliver this groundbreaking app.’

The eyeWitness organisation trains investigators in the use of the technology whilst building partnerships with human rights organisations to collate a catalogue of potential evidence. It supports documenters with guidance on how visual evidence can fit into their investigations and support the court process and connects them with other organisations that can help.

Since its launch in 2015, eyeWitness has submitted over 80 dossiers containing authenticated photos and videos to international, regional, and/or national investigative bodies, including the International Criminal Court (ICC). Over the years, the eyeWitness app has been used across several high-risk regions and users have captured more than 70,000 authenticated photos and videos of alleged atrocity crimes and human rights violations.

All the shortlisted categories are available on the UK tech awards 2024 website. The winners will be announced at the Hotel Continental in London, United Kingdom on 14 November 2024.

ENDS

Contact: media@eyewitness.global

Contact: IBApressoffice@int-bar.org

Notes to the reader:

1. Related material

   • 2023 eyeWitness Outcome Report
   • Russia-Ukraine war: eyeWitness to Atrocities app captures potential evidence for trials
   • eyeWitness to Atrocities appoints two renowned international law experts as Counsellors to the Board

2. About eyeWitness to Atrocities

   eyeWitness to Atrocities (eyeWitness) is a London-based non-profit organisation that was created as an initiative of the International Bar Association (IBA) in 2015. By combining law with technology, eyeWitness’ controlled-capture camera app for Android phones was designed to ensure that digital footage of alleged mass atrocity crimes meets the admissibility standards of courts.

   eyeWitness offers the only system specifically designed by legal professionals for human rights defenders to collect, verify and safeguard potential digital evidence of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and serious human rights violations.

   In addition the app itself, eyeWitness also offers secure storage for footage, training on best documentation practices, legal expertise and links to key accountability bodies such as United Nations mechanisms, the International Criminal Court and domestic war crimes units, streamlining the process from documentation to justice. All these services are free.

3. Find the eyeWitness to Atrocities app on Google Play here: tinyurl.com/qctl4s6.

4. Find eyeWitness on social media here:

   • x.com/eyewitnessorg
   • facebook.com/eyewitnesstoatrocities
   • linkedin.com/company/eyewitness-to-atrocities

5. About the International Bar Association

   The International Bar Association (IBA), established in 1947, is the world’s leading organisation of international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies. Through its global membership of individual lawyers, law firms, bar associations and law societies, it influences the development of international law reform and shapes the future of the legal profession throughout the world. The IBA is the foremost association of legal practitioners across the globe. The IBA was born under the conviction that a legal association should contribute to global peace, democracy and human rights protection and upholding the rule of law.

6. Find the IBA on social media here:

   • x.com/IBAnews
   • x.com/IBAevents
   • x.com/IBAHagueOffice
   • www.facebook.com/internationalbarassociation
   • www.linkedin.com/company/international-bar-association

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Website page link for this news release:
Short link: https://tinyurl.com/2vbkb626
Full link: https://www.ibanet.org/eyeWitness-app-authenticating-potential-evidence-of-war-crimes-is-shortlisted-for-UK-tech-for-good-award