Ukraine: Inside Amnesty International's Crisis Evidence Lab

The following advertisement from Amnesty International has been sent to you via Mother Jones' email list. Mother Jones is a nonprofit, and most of our budget comes from readers like you, but revenue from advertisers helps us produce more of the hard-hitting journalism you expect. We never disclose your information to an advertiser. Mother Jones does not endorse any candidate, political organization, commercial product, or service, and the views expressed in this email do not constitute any endorsement or recommendation by Mother Jones. How we verify and analyze human rights violations [HELP POWER AMNESTY'S CRISIS EVIDENCE LAB]( Friend, After a preschool in Ukraine was hit with widely-banned cluster munitions, Amnesty International's Crisis Evidence Lab got to work to investigate the video. Our team of experts used geolocation data, obtained dozens more photos and videos from other sources, checked satellite image records, and interviewed witnesses. Less than 48 hours later, we verified that the attack was from a 220-millimeter Uragan rocket, a Russian-made weapon. We confirmed Russian forces were operating nearby. Each hour, this crisis becomes more dire. Russian forces are increasing their aggression against civilians. Amnesty has deployed research teams to countries that border Ukraine to document human rights violations, and to monitor human rights of the over 3,000,000 Ukrainians and others fleeing the conflict. This rapid response is possible because of grassroots support from people like you. [Please, make an emergency donation to support Amnesty's Crisis Evidence Lab, and our deployment of researchers.]( [DONATE NOW]( Confirming violations by the Russian government and military helps the world to pressure President Putin toward restraint, and it builds the case for holding leaders accountable for committing human rights violations. Amnesty has documented multiple violations committed by Russian forces in Ukraine, and we are urging the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to investigate them as war crimes: [Amnesty International's Crisis Evidence Lab analyzed digital evidence including photos, videos and satellite imagery of indiscriminate attacks in #Ukraine. They have verified violations of international law which could amount to war crimes. Map of suspected war crimes in Ukraine.]( Each of these incidents were meticulously analyzed before they were verified by Amnesty's Crisis Evidence Lab. The Crisis Evidence Lab is an incredibly powerful arm of Amnesty International. It's made up of investigators, engineers, and developers. It tackles complex research and innovative investigative methods, and develops innovative new tools using artificial intelligence, remote sensing, big-data analytics, and open source investigations. Here's what you really need to know: Documentation from Amnesty's Crisis Evidence Lab and other Amnesty research has been used by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its investigations. Our research holds those who break international humanitarian and human rights laws accountable, and it brings justice for those whose human rights are violated. [Our teams are in full force, gathering evidence of human rights violations in Ukraine every single minute. We all know that takes resources — please, help us sustain the Crisis Evidence Lab by making an emergency donation today.]( Here's how a Crisis Evidence Lab investigation works: Our team often starts with a reverse image search, to verify if a photo or video has appeared elsewhere on the internet before. Then, we evaluate the metadata and corroborate the details in the photos. Are there landmarks observable in the background? Does the weather pictured match the record for that time and place? Can we cross-reference with satellite imagery from that date? At the same time, Amnesty staff in the region and beyond gather other available evidence and witness statements. Combining first-hand statements from witnesses with digitally-verified evidence allows us to see through the fog of war and determine what really happened. [DONATE NOW]( Russia's invasion of Ukraine is getting worse, and we don't know what will happen next. But I can say this: our Crisis Evidence Lab and our research team will stay in rapid-response mode, documenting and verifying claims just like the preschool attack [Please, be a part of this work. Make an emergency gift to support and expand our Crisis Evidence Lab.]( Even while this crisis deepens in Ukraine, our work to investigate, document, and prevent human rights abuses continues worldwide. Over the past several years, investigators with the Crisis Evidence Lab have exposed war crimes, crimes against humanity, and serious human rights violations in some of the world's most hostile and war-torn environments, including in Ethiopia, Iraq, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and Myanmar. [Power the Crisis Evidence Lab by making a special emergency donation today.]( Together with the global Amnesty International movement, let's work to ensure Russian forces are held accountable for their actions. Sincerely, Rachel Ward National Research Director Amnesty International USA P.S. These attacks are horrific — and what's worse, they are likely to be the tip of the iceberg. That's why Amnesty is using the full breadth and scope of our capacity to uncover war crimes and human rights violations. This work is critical because Amnesty documentation will ultimately be part of what holds Russian leaders accountable for their crimes. [Donate now to help Amnesty International protect human rights and lives in Ukraine.]( [DONATE NOW]( © 2022 Amnesty International USA 311 W 43rd Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10036 | 1-800-AMNESTY [Mother Jones]( Mother Jones and its nonprofit publisher, the Foundation for National Progress, do not endorse any political candidate, political organization, commercial product, process, or service, and the views expressed in this communication do not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by Mother Jones. This message was sent to {EMAIL}. To change the messages you receive from us, you can [edit your email preferences]( or [unsubscribe from all mailings.]( For advertising opportunities see our online [media kit.]( Were you forwarded this email? [Sign up for Mother Jones' newsletters today.]( [www.MotherJones.com]( PO Box 8539, Big Sandy, TX 75755