Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
(http://www.hurisearch.org), a human rights
web search tool developed by HURIDOCS.
HuriSearch incorporates Dublin Core metadata
into its indexing, and analyses search results us-
ing the HURIDOCS Index Terms so that users
can easily identify the most prevalent human
rights themes on the Web. At the end of 2008,
for example, it has indexed over 511,000 human
rights Web resources as relating to “women” and
almost 440,000 on “health” - both of which are
listed in the Index Terms.
None of the reports received by UnitedForA-
frica.co.za were published without first verifying
the content. A system of checks was implemented
which included conducting online searches to see if
other commentary existed on the incident, as well
as checking if more than one person reported the
incident. The portal managers were also anxious
to ensure they were not seen to be sensationalising
what was happening; the potential repercussions
of publishing for individuals, vulnerable groups
and society in general always need to be taken
into consideration.
The type of information being reported and
published by UnitedForAfrica.co.za is typified
by the following incident which occurred at the
Atteridgeville township on Saturday June 14
th
2008 at approximately 2.00pm:
caSe StuDy: citizenS
reporting online in
SoutH africa
The importance of citizen journalism as means
of documenting human rights violations is typi-
fied by the
UnitedForAfrica.co.za
portal. This is
an interactive online facility set up in May 2008
within days of an outbreak of xenophopic attacks
on foreigners in South Africa. Its objective was
to enable ordinary people who witnessed or had
information about violent incidents to anony-
mously submit reports.
Incident reporting on UnitedForAfrica.co.za is
done using a web-based form. The web reporting
provides incident description, location, date and time,
incident category (selected from a predefined list)
and the names of people involved. It even provides
the option of adding links to uploaded video - for
example on Youtube. There is also an SMS facility
which people can use to text in reports to an adver-
tised number. Leaflets with the number prominently
displayed were produced and distributed around
potential trouble hotspots. These leaflets highlighted
the objectives of the project which were to have
stories told; to mobilize members of the public to
assist; to mobilize government to react; to raise
money and to inform people how they can assist;
and to share opinions on the causes and solutions
through ongoing dialogue and debate.
A Mozambican man has been burned alive by a
mob during disturbances near the South African
capital Pretoria.
The 30-year-old was stoned then set alight in
Atteridgeville township after being accused of
an arson attack on a shack the day before, said
police.
Three suspects were held for murder and robbery
as 2,000 rand ($246 £126) were stolen from the
man, police said.
Atteridgeville was the scene of a spate of recent
attacks on foreigners, in which 62 people died.
A report on this incident was subsequently
published by the BBC News in its entirety, with the
following additional background information:
Tens of thousands of people were displaced in the
violence - blamed on unemployment and scarce
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