Documenter and database manager for a Ukrainian NGO
Skills
Plays a dual role. Oleksandra captures evidence first-hand, then collects her, and others', evidence to organize and analyze an evidence archive.
Base Location
Kharkiv
Oleksandra works as a documenter and a database manager for a Ukrainian NGO.
Oleksandra is based in Kharkiv. She spends around half her time working from home and the other half traveling eastern Ukraine for work.
Oleksandra’s mode of connecting to the internet depends on where she is. While she prefers to connect via a secure WiFi network when she is managing databases and uploading content she has documented, she occasionally relies on mobile data while she is traveling to a location to record evidence of hostilities.
Oleksandra uses an iPhone to capture evidence and share information with others.
Oleksandra receives media directly from sources, from documenters collecting OSINT (scraping media from social media and other public sites), and from physical documents submitted to her.
Oleksandra's Case Summary
Tasks
Documenting war crimes, collecting evidence of human rights abuses
Organizing evidence in a cohesive database
Keeping the database updated with new information and content
Leveraging the database to advance legal efforts to hold perpetrators accountable for war crimes and other human rights abuses
Goals and Motivations
Developing evidence bases for internal legal systems to use in efforts to prosecute Russian war crimes
Environment
Outdoors in conflict zones (streets, civilian infrastructure, neighborhoods, etc.) in Kharkiv region
Indoors in conflict zones (detention centers, bunkers, etc.) in Kharkiv region
Office/home in Kharkiv
Needs
Technical support and resources (increase database space/storage)
Improvements in database interfaces and operations
More comprehensive information and communication regarding attacks and hostilities
Technical training for team to streamline workflows and reduce risk of losing or compromising information
Pain points
Oleksandra faces threats to her physical safety
Inconsistent technical capacities and vocabularies among team
Lack of resources to build secure and sustainable databases
Strained relationships with State Emergency Services
Solutions
Funding to invest in database operations
Training and digital tools related to communications and to database management
Technologies that aid Oleksandra in documenting war crimes, but are not dependent on internet connection
