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Alexa

@alexakoenig.bsky.social
2.5K followers 362 following 59 posts

JD PhD Co-Director, Human Rights Center, UC Berkeley + Co-Founder, Investigations Lab #BerkeleyProtocol Recovered Performer, Eternal Optimist Forthcoming books: Digital Witness 2 and At the Intersection picture thx: Jason Madara for The Resistance

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Alexa @alexakoenig.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Our teams at Physicians for Human Rights + @hrcberkeley.bsky.social's Investigations Lab spent a year documenting + verifying improper crowd-control tactics across the U.S., creating a dataset for reporters + lawyers, spotlighting violations of US Constitutional + human rights law. More below 👇
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Kolina Koltai @koltai.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
Absolutely phenomenal to hear both @manisha.bsky.social and @alexakoenig.bsky.social talk about their experience working in the field of OSINT. What a treat to have them both on stage together, including their experiences as women in this space.
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Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
"[Bystander video] is one of the tools at the disposal of everyday people that is a cornerstone of really being able to hold government actors accountable + help individuals who cannot be there on the ground understand what is happening," @alexakoenig.bsky.social: www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
usatoday.com
Protesters, immigration agencies battle — on social media
Social media has become a critical tool for documenting the activity of federal agents. In some cases, officers are filming activists right back.
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Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
In a new @opiniojuris.bsky.social blog, HRC's @alexakoenig.bsky.social & @bmcg-leyh.bsky.social from @utrechtuniversity.bsky.social reflect on the challenges of running open source investigations labs at public universities: opiniojuris.org/2026/01/12/i...
opiniojuris.org
Innovative but Precarious: The Challenge of Running Open-Source Investigations Labs at Public Universities
[Alexa Koenig, PhD, MA, JD, is a research professor at UC Berkeley School of Law, faculty director of UC Berkeley’s Human Rights Center, and director and co-founder of the center’s Investigations L…
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UC Berkeley Law @ucberkeleylaw.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
"We believe that Open-Source Investigation Labs can and should become part of the educational and research infrastructure of the public university." — Opinion by Prof. Alexa Koenig and Utrecht University’s Prof. Brianne McGonigle Leyh: bit.ly/4aYZHRo #BerkeleyLaw @alexakoenig.bsky.social
bit.ly
Innovative but Precarious: The Challenge of Running Open-Source Investigations Labs at Public Universities
[Alexa Koenig, PhD, MA, JD, is a research professor at UC Berkeley School of Law, faculty director of UC Berkeley’s Human Rights Center, and director and co-founder of the center’s Investigations L…
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UC Berkeley Law @ucberkeleylaw.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
Watch: Professor Alexa Koenig, co-faculty director of @hrcberkeley.bsky.social, appeared on @ktvufox2.bsky.social to discuss research on El Salvador’s CECOT prison: www.ktvu.com/video/1759430 #BerkeleyLaw @alexakoenig.bsky.social
ktvu.com
El Salvador’s mega-prison: what UC Berkeley researchers found
Alexa Koenig, Berkeley law co-faculty director, Human Rights Center, shares findings into the deportations of Venezuelan's to El Salvador's CECOT prison. The UC Berkeley research team was part of a st...
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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
Canadian #ICC Judge Prost has spoken about the emotional & practical toll that US sanctions against her have taken. Yet Ottawa will not speak out against these sanctions. The reason, I have had confirmed, is bc Canada is afraid of American anger at calling sanctions out. A sad state of affairs.
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Gregg Butensky @gbutensky.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
Excellent segment, not just on the 60 Minutes debacle but also on the broader importance of open source research, analysis and verification. Very well done, @alexakoenig.bsky.social!
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Alexa @alexakoenig.bsky.social · 20/12/2025
Thanks to 60 Minutes for covering this important issue. I'm incredibly grateful to all of the members of the Human Rights Center team for their work and to Human Rights Watch for trusting us with a small piece of their effort to illuminate the experiences of the men sent to CECOT 👇
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Alexa @alexakoenig.bsky.social · 20/12/2025
It's been a big week! 👇
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Kolina Koltai @koltai.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
I chatted with @alexakoenig.bsky.social at @hrcberkeley.bsky.social about investigating sexual and gender based crimes online. Anyone who knows me can tell you this is something I care deeply about and we're at a cultural turning point to either stop it or let it flourish medium.com/@maggie.visu...
medium.com
Investigating sexual and gender-based crimes online
To celebrate the publication of the Open-Source Practitioner’s Guide to the Murad Code, our Faculty Director Alexa Koenig sat down with…
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Alexa @alexakoenig.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
Thank you, Kolina, for the conversation and you're important work!
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Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
"A structural approach to OSI collaborations may enhance rigorous, credible and meaningful investigations that leverage the richness of multidisciplinary input, rather than being hampered by it." Read more in @opiniojuris.bsky.social / @alexakoenig.bsky.social: opiniojuris.org/2025/11/24/c...
opiniojuris.org
Collaborations Across Borders and Disciplines: Insights from Open-Source Investigations
[Isabella Regan is PhD researcher at the department of Law, Society and Crime of Erasmus School of Law, Rotterdam, focusing on public and private open-source investigations and atrocity crimes. Ale…
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Alexa @alexakoenig.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
1/2 "Investigating Hell" - our student team at the @hrcberkeley.bsky.social's Investigations Lab discuss their methods + experiences conducting open source research for Human Rights Watch's important new report "You Have Arrived in Hell" medium.com/humanrightsc...
medium.com
Investigating hell: How our students supported Human Rights Watch’s report on El Salvador’s CECOT
This is a co-authored post by Talia Harter, Maneh Davityan, Kyle Sweasey, Nick D’Acri, Ana Gonzalez, Audrey Colocho, Daniella Spero
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Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
🚨 1/2: Our Investigations Lab students + staff contributed essential research verifying detention conditions and patterns of abuse in @hrw.org + @cristosal.bsky.social's new report on arbitrary detention, torture + inhumane conditions in El Salvador’s CECOT mega-prison. 🔗 www.hrw.org/report/2025/...
hrw.org
“You Have Arrived in Hell”
The 81-page report, “‘You Have Arrived in Hell’: Torture and Other Abuses Against Venezuelans in El Salvador’s Mega Prison,” provides a comprehensive account of the treatment of these people in El Sal...
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Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
2/2: This work is possible thanks to the tireless work of our staff Linda Gordon, @alexakoenig.bsky.social, @betsypopken.bsky.social, and more. Explore more about this work in our 2024/25 Annual Report: humanrights.berkeley.edu/publications...
humanrights.berkeley.edu
Annual Report 2024/2025 - Berkeley Human Rights Center
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Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
🧵4/5: On 11/5 @ucberkeleylaw.bsky.social, we're screening Estado de Silencio (State of Silence), a documentary on violence against journalists in #Mexico. Panel to follow with Santiago Maza, @berkeleyjournalism.bsky.social, @betsypopken.bsky.social + more! RSVP: events.berkeley.edu/hrc/event/22...
events.berkeley.edu
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Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
🧵3/5 @bellingcat.com's Director for Research and Training @giancarlofiorella.bsky.social & Investigator and Trainer @koltai.bsky.social spent 3 days visiting our Investigations Lab + @alexakoenig.bsky.social, sharing research and open source investigative methods with students.
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Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
🧵1/5 Our October newsletter just dropped! Check out our new projects & latest updates, including groundbreaking research on farmworker safety, a visit from @bellingcat.com to our Investigations Lab, our annual Human Rights Fellowship Conference, & much more: conta.cc/43JPELf
conta.cc
HRC October Newsletter
Email from Human Rights Center New wildfire safe and healthy research, fellowship conference, and more!     October 2025 Newsletter 2024–2025 student fellow Rachel Wallace presents on a panel at the 2
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Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
1/2: Through the Climate Disasters Initiative, the Human Rights Center @ucberkeleylaw.bsky.social partners with frontline communities, analyzes disaster laws and policies, and trains students to advance equity in preparedness and recovery: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpNe...
youtube.com
Climate Disasters Initiative Profile
YouTube video by Human Rights Center, UC Berkeley
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Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
For 30+ years, our Student Fellowship Program has trained the next generation of #HumanRights leaders—providing hands-on experience that shapes their research, advocacy & careers. Watch one fellow's story below! 🌍 400+ fellows 🤝 350+ orgs ✈️ 88+ countries www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgti...
youtube.com
Student Fellowship Profile
YouTube video by Human Rights Center, UC Berkeley
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Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
This work is possible thanks to the tireless work of our wonderful students, staff, and partners! Explore the Lab's impact and more in our 2024/25 Annual Report: humanrights.berkeley.edu/publications... @alexakoenig.bsky.social @betsypopken.bsky.social
humanrights.berkeley.edu
Annual Report 2024/2025 - Berkeley Human Rights Center
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Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
Our Investigations Lab trains students in #OSINT & digital verification to document human rights violations worldwide. We’ve partnered with @amnesty.org, @hrw.org, @apnews.com & more to investigate abuses in Sudan, Iran, the United States & beyond. Explore more: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT6D...
youtube.com
Investigations Lab Profile
YouTube video by Human Rights Center, UC Berkeley
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Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
Thrilled that HRC Faculty Director @alexakoenig.bsky.social is one of the inaugural members of Women Transforming Global Security, a new feminist global network addressing crises related to nuclear weapons proliferation, climate change, human rights, and more: transformingsecurity.org
transformingsecurity.org
Reimagining Security for the 21st Century - WTGS
Women Transforming Global Security represents a groundbreaking alliance of distinguished women leaders pioneering a comprehensive framework for addressing
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Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
HRC's @alexakoenig.bsky.social and @lindsaysfreeman.bsky.social each have new articles out in @uchicagolaw.bsky.social's International Law Journal's summer 2025 edition! Check out the full journal here, with the articles linked below: cjil.uchicago.edu/print-archiv...
cjil.uchicago.edu
26.1 | Chicago Journal of International Law
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Alexa @alexakoenig.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
1/2 Article out from Chicago on guidelines we'll be launching this fall w/ the Institute for International Criminal Investigations on using #OSINT methods to investigate sexual and gender-based violence w/ the goal of bringing two int'l investigative worlds together cjil.uchicago.edu/print-archiv...
cjil.uchicago.edu
Digital Investigations of Systematic and Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: Practice and Possibilities | Chicago Journal of International Law
I. Introduction
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United Nations Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies @unodet.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
Internship: #UNJob Alert 🚨 @unodet.bsky.social is hiring interns in Geneva! Help build a better future of emerging tech by fostering #DigitalCooperation. Tracks: 🔹Research & Technical Content 🔹Stakeholder Engagment & Policy Coordination Apply by 🔗 26 Aug 2025: tinyurl.com/ph9r8xhm
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Gregg Butensky @gbutensky.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
OSINT Provides Powerful Evidence of Gender Crimes in Iran and Beyond Well done Alexa Koenig @alexakoenig.bsky.social and Andrea Richardson. #OSINT #ICC
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Gregg Butensky @gbutensky.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
“Allowing the worldwide publication of war crimes on the open web emboldens perpetrators, demoralizes victims, and frustrates national law enforcement, who rarely have jurisdiction to act when crimes are committed outside their territories," writes Lindsay Freeman - @lindsaysfreeman.bsky.social
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Alexa @alexakoenig.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
"In West Africa...there is a new band of online influencers: war influencers" @lindsaysfreeman.bsky.social @hrcberkeley.bsky.social details how the Wagner group + other PMCs use Telegram to terrorize - and details 1st steps to accountability www.lawfaremedia.org/article/war-...
lawfaremedia.org
War Crimes for Fun and Profit
War influencers are posting evidence of their crimes online. Why has there been so little accountability?
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Just Security @justsecurity.org · 18/06/2025
Babies are again being born #HIV positive in #Uganda, after US #ForeignAid cuts. @payalkshah.bsky.social writes it’s among many signs the resulting global #HealthCrisis is also a #HumanRights crisis. www.justsecurity.org/114839/us-fo... #UNHumanRightsCouncil #HRC59
justsecurity.org
U.S. Foreign Aid Cuts to Healthcare Trigger a Global Human Rights Crisis: How the World Must Respond
The U.N. Human Rights Council's current session offers a critical opening for leaders to address the health crisis spurred by U.S. funding cuts.
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Just Security @justsecurity.org · 21/06/2025
(1/3) Catch up on our recent analysis: • Israel / Iran • Political violence • U.S. military deployment • Trump executive actions • Public health • European security • Corruption • United Nations / Counterterrorism • Series: Gender & protests in Iran www.justsecurity.org/114795/diges...
justsecurity.org
Digest of Recent Articles on Just Security (June 15-20, 2025)
Israel / Iran • Political violence • U.S. military deployment • Trump executive actions • Public health • European security • Corruption • United Nations / Counterterrorism • Series: Gender & protests...
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Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
The final in a special @justsecurity.org series, @alexakoenig.bsky.social and Andrea Richardson discuss how #OSINT can strengthen accountability for gender crimes through our report on attacks against #WomanLifeFreedom protestors: www.justsecurity.org/112988/open-...
justsecurity.org
Open-Source Information Provides Powerful Evidence of Gender Crimes in Iran and Beyond
Digital open source data can be ethically deployed to strengthen investigations and prosecutions on gender crimes in Iran and elsewhere.
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Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 17/06/2025
If you're doing research on online civility or lack thereof, get to know the Civility Analyzer module in @communalytic.org. It can automatically identify toxic, insulting, & threatening posts or posts showing compassion, curiosity, & respect in any text-based dataset. Communalytic.org
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Just Security @justsecurity.org · 18/06/2025
New resources are available for investigators using open-source information to document and prosecute #gender-related crimes. Andrea Richardson and @alexakoenig.bsky.social explain how they are being used in #Iran and beyond: www.justsecurity.org/112988/open-...
justsecurity.org
Open-Source Information Provides Powerful Evidence of Gender Crimes in Iran and Beyond
Digital open source data can be ethically deployed to strengthen investigations and prosecutions on gender crimes in Iran and elsewhere.
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Alexa @alexakoenig.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
"Suddenly the phone records the crack of 3 gunshots. By the third the camera loses focus and [tumbles] out of its holder’s hands...apparent footage of the killing of a protestor." Final post in series @justsecurity.org on how #OSINT can help prove gender crimes www.justsecurity.org/112988/open-...
justsecurity.org
Open-Source Information Provides Powerful Evidence of Gender Crimes in Iran and Beyond
Digital open source data can be ethically deployed to strengthen investigations and prosecutions on gender crimes in Iran and elsewhere.
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Jess Peake @jesspeake.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
The UN Fact-Finding Mission on #Iran is doing incredible work to document #crimesagainsthumanity and #humanrights violations committed by the Islamic Republic. The Iran Digital Archive Coalition is proud to assist by providing #digitalevidence.
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Jess Peake @jesspeake.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
Being involved with the creation of the #Iran Digital Archive Coalition and working with these incredible partners has been a career highlight. Each of us cares deeply about #accountability for #humanrights violations and #crimesagainsthumanity in Iran
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Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
More to come in this series, including a piece from @alexakoenig.bsky.social and Andrea Richardson on using open source information to establish elements of the international crime against humanity of gender persecution: www.justsecurity.org/tag/series-o...
justsecurity.org
Series on Gender and Protests in Iran
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Just Security @justsecurity.org · 11/06/2025
During the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom protests in #Iran, security forces responded with violence, killing at least 500 people. A group of civil society orgs worked to safeguard evidence, write Jess Peake, Nushin Sarkarati, and Kelly Liu. First in a series: www.justsecurity.org/114163/coali...
justsecurity.org
The Coalition that Preserved Content from Iran’s Protests
Woman, Life, Freedom victims and survivors are calling for help. We must amplify their voices and demand justice.
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Alexa @alexakoenig.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
1/ Out today! The first two pieces in a special series @justsecurity.org on our collaborative investigations into gender persecution + attacks on Woman Life Freedom protestors in Iran. www.justsecurity.org/tag/series-o...
justsecurity.org
Series on Gender and Protests in Iran
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Alexa @alexakoenig.bsky.social · 25/05/2025
It was incredibly exciting to learn about the variability of and extraordinary work being done at other university OSINT labs. This academic field has come so far in just under a decade. Great to meet you Lydia + to share the stage with these innovative humans!
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Alexa @alexakoenig.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
Whoa. So many thoughts on the ethics, prejudicial value and more of an AI generated statement from a deceased victim in court..... www.npr.org/2025/05/07/g...
npr.org
After an Arizona man was shot, an AI video of him addresses his killer in court
AI experts say this is likely the first time that AI has been used in the U.S. to create an impact statement read by an AI rendering of the deceased victim
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Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
Join us in celebrating the book launch of "Failure of the State: Organised Crime and Mexico’s Disappeared" by HRC Senior Researcher Dr. Lene Guercke! 📅 May 1 🕔 5 PM 🎙️ @alexakoenig.bsky.social & Omar Gómez-Trejo 📍 HRC @ucberkeleylaw.bsky.social 🍽️ Snacks served! 🔗 events.berkeley.edu/hrc/event/29...
events.berkeley.edu
Failure of the State: Organised Crime and Mexico’s Disappeared - a book launch and discussion
A book launch and conversation with Dr. Lene Guercke on her new book Failure of the State: Organised Crime and Mexico’s Disappeared Speakers...
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Alexa @alexakoenig.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
Open-source researchers: whether you’re actively searching for evidence re: conflict-related sexual violence or not, you may find it. We've just launched the pilot Open-Source Practitioner’s Guide to the Murad Code w/ IICI to help www.muradcode.com/open-source-... @berkeleylaw.bsky.social
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Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
We've been documenting the first 75 days of actions taken by the Trump administration that impact veterans and the military in partnership with ‬@thewarhorsenews.bsky.social. The timeline links to executive orders, other official actions, articles, social media posts, and more. Check it out now:
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Gregg Butensky @gbutensky.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
Heart-wrenching reporting (video) from BBC journalist who reached Mandalay. #WhatsHappeninglnMyanmar #earthquake
bbc.com
Myanmar earthquake: BBC finds huge devastation and little help for survivors in Mandalay
Yogita Limaye is the one of the first foreign journalists to enter Myanmar since a huge earthquake hit the war-torn country.
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Alexa @alexakoenig.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
Total we launch 2 additional reports from the Iran Digital Archive Coalition that underscore the int'l crimes we've been documenting through open source investigations + the importance of the #IranFFMI's continuing work #HRCLab humanrights.berkeley.edu/projects/inv...
humanrights.berkeley.edu
Investigating Violence Against Woman, Life, Freedom Protesters in Iran - Berkeley Human Rights Center
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Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
We've published two new reports, the latest in an ongoing series, which offer additional evidence that international crimes have been perpetrated in Iran, and demonstrate how digital open source information can support future legal accountability: humanrights.berkeley.edu/projects/inv...
humanrights.berkeley.edu
Investigating Violence Against Woman, Life, Freedom Protesters in Iran - Berkeley Human Rights Center
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Human Rights Center @hrcberkeley.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
"Digital investigations are more ethical and effective when they are survivor-centered and trauma-informed," write @alexakoenig.bsky.social & @anthonyghaly.bsky.social for @justsecurity.org: www.justsecurity.org/108985/guida... www.justsecurity.org/108985/guida...
justsecurity.org
Guidance Gap in Investigations of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
Guidance on how to conduct digital investigations into sexual violence remains underdeveloped, leaving a dangerous gap.
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