LAW TAKE HOME POINTS First, the videos captured by activists may never find their way into a courtroom. But this does not diminish the value of video to support the pursuit of accountability. As the investigation and trial against Lubanga illustrate, video is useful at different stages, from supporting the call for an investigation to serving as evidence in the courtroom. In this case, video was used from the beginning to the end of the process. FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about the purposes video can serve, see “All About Evidence.” vae.witness.org Second, the video you film must be relevant and reliable. However, in the earlier stages of the criminal justice process, the burden is lower — your video does not have to meet the same high standards necessary to be introduced as evidence at a trial — so don’t worry if the video you collect does not meet the standard for being “trial-ready.” It can still be valuable. Third, video evidence serves different purposes at trial. In the example above, we see how video served as key prima facie evidence, proving that some of the Lubanga’s forces were under the age of 15. 27 VIDEO AS EVIDENCE: STAGES & STANDARDS OF PROOF V 1.0