Methodologies experiences of data collection 25.09.2014 sandra orlovic

1. Basic principles and challenges in
documenting the grave human
rights violations
– experience of Humanitarian Law
Center r

2. Summary of the presentation
• Introduction
• Context of former Yugoslavia
• Basic principles
• Tools for documenting
• Management and preservation of data
• Use of documentation in

3. Wars in former Yugoslavia
• Disolution of the Socialist Federative Republic
Yugoslavia
• 1991-2001: 5 conflicts
• Mass human rights violations
• Colapse of rule of law
• Participation of the international community
(ICTY...)
• Present

4. Humanitarian Law Center
• Documentation Center (1992)
• Mission – Support post-Yugoslav countries in
in the promotion of the rule of law and
acceptance of the legacy of mass human
rights violations, and therefore in establishing
the criminal responsibility of the perpetrators,
serving justice, and preventing recurrence.

5. Some issues for deliberations
before starting documenting
• Why (purpose)?
• How long?
• Resources?
• Purpose?
• Methodology?

6. Principles
• Fact- finding
• Independent – you don’t convict people!
• Security

7. Sources of information
• Documents
• Interviews
• (Forensics)

8. Documentary sources
• Official vs. non-official
• Media, NGO reports, others..
• Contextual information, lead to witnesses and
victims

9. Interviews
• No universal methodology
• Questionnaire is helpful
• Important principles (consent, honesty, safety,
good preparation)
• Appropriate enviroment for interviewing
• Issues of time passage

10. Managment and preservation of data
• Mostly neglected but crucial issue
• Data Bases – tailored and open source
• Archives
• Security considerations

11. Use of documentation - some
examples from HLC practice
• Fact-finding and truth telling: Human Losses
registers and Dossiers on perpetrators
• Justice initiatives: supporting war crimes trials,
criminal complaints, reparations for victims,
vetting...
• Advocacy for policy change in the framework
of Serbia’s integration in EU
• Education about the past

12. Спасибі!