This report summarises the challenges, opportunities, and recommendations for human rights defenders (HRDs) regarding technology tools as part of human rights advocacy. It acknowledges the need for reliable information management to better document human rights violations, but highlights the difficulties surrounding the challenging issue of choosing which technology tool to use.

Key Findings

• Simplicity, familiarity, and ease of use are key criteria for HRDs when selecting technology tools with Word and Excel and cloud-based tools such as Google Drive and Dropbox being the most commonly used.
• HRDs frequently face financial and resource constraints and often rely on external experts outside their organisations to manage and troubleshoot technology tools.
• Ongoing support for technology tools, including technical support and maintenance, is a pressing concern for HRDs.
• HRDs are using technology tools in a variety of ways, from communication to documenting and storing data and for sharing findings more broadly including social media platforms.
• There is a lack of technical capacity among HRD initiatives, making it difficult for organisations to identify which new technologies to adopt
• The possibility of losing important information due to crashes or other technical issues, makes technology tools’ sustainability a top concern for HRDs when deciding which tools to use.

Considerations

The report considers the following key factors when assessing which technology tool to select:

• Contextual vs. adaptive tools: Given the varying work environments of HRDs, it is essential to have technology tools designed specifically to adapt to the context of the work.
• Digital security concerns: Risk management strategies are required to ensure digital security while using technology tools such as Google Drive to avoid information loss or data breaches.
• Priorities: HRDs must use technology tools as an integrated part of their strategy for communication and advocacy.
• Finding information: A key consideration is how the technology tool chosen will help find and document information effectively and efficiently.
• Choosing a tool: HRDs consistently state that they prefer tools that are simple, easy to use, and have been tried and tested by other organisations.

Usefulness of Tools

Technology tools offer numerous benefits such as managing vast amounts of data, data verification and collection, and support partnerships and encourage sharing of information and resources between organisations. Integrating technology tools with existing campaigns, programmes, and communication channels increases HRDs’ effectiveness.

Barriers to Tools Use

HRDs face new challenges when trying to document human rights violations, including the threat of security breaches and the need for new, sustainable technology tools. Digital security concerns and data storage options, as well as managing internal reluctance and communication between HRD teams, are also issues to consider. There is also resistance to change which poses significant challenges to adoption and engagement with technology tools.

Sustainability

• Technical support, technical realities, and the longevity of the technology tool are critical factors that impact sustainability and can cause fatigue among users.
• Continuous training and updates can help address this challenge, and establishing long-term control and oneself in control of technology tools help overcome reliance on external parties.

Recommendations

The report recommends the following:

• HRDs should analyse whether the technology tool chosen is helpful and effective and try to adapt it to their needs.
• They should be more critical and mindful of the risks and opportunities presented by technology tools to maximise their use in documenting human rights violations.
• HRDs should seek external opinions while identifying gaps in technical capacity and investing in ongoing technical assistance for their organisations.
• Collaboration between organisations and partnering with technology providers can lead to better decision-making and technology adoption.