Importance of documentation for WHRDs

For ourselves

Documentation is done for the sake of history and building a collective memory. It allows recording of experiences as Human Rights Defenders and as women. If there is no record of the violations inflicted upon women Human Rights Defenders, they will not be recognized and their work as Human Rights Defenders will never be known. It is also for the sake of future generations, so that women are not forgotten as anonymous victims, and their collective contribution to the defence of human rights will be acknowledged in history.

Documenting can be a safe space for victims and survivors to tell their stories, knowing that their confidentiality will be protected, and their testimonies will be part of processes for justice and reconciliation.

Documentation can also present opportunities for women victims and survivors to link their experiences with that of others for mutual support and collective action. It can also help them to identify their specific needs so they are included in future processes of redress for the victims.

Documentation can also be a learning tool. It can provide a basis for reflection and evaluation. It opens ways to understand new forms of human rights violations against women, and create new mechanisms for remedy and redress. It gives insight into the specific risks and vulnerabilities of women Human Rights Defenders, and paves the way to develop interventions that are strategic and appropriate to their context.