Who Is This For? Collection planning is an advanced practice for human rights activists who intentionally seek to capture video footage for human rights documentation and use as potential evidence for long-term justice and accountability. Collection planning isn’t for an eyewitness who unexpectedly documents a human rights violation. FILMING While it’s not mandatory, it’s ideal for activists to undertake the collection planning process in collaboration with local lawyers that they trust and want to work with moving forward. If you are able to work in a team, collection planning builds a stronger bridge between activists, non-governmental organizations, investigators and lawyers. Collection planning will strengthen and streamline this collaboration by: • Helping investigators and lawyers to better advise activists on the ground about what footage the activists should collect if they would like their video to be useful to the judicial process. • Helping activists to better understand what they should spend their time and effort on filming so it’s more likely the footage will be useful. Most importantly, regardless of whether you have a legal partner or not, if you find this planning process outlined here too cumbersome, no worries - just keep in mind the Take Home Points on page 3 and when you have more time or need to implement the process more fully, the steps are here for you. Working Together Can Strengthen Your Case Plan Capture Submit to Court Present GOAL FOR QUICK REFERENCE The end goal is to ensure the footage you collect supports justice and accountability instead of being irrelevant or duplicative. Because justice systems differ around the world, it is important to keep in mind that a Collection Plan doesn’t guarantee that your video will be used as evidence, but it can significantly strengthen the chances. Filming or working in the field? Take the “Collection Planning Mini Guide” with you for fast access to key points: bit.ly/ WITNESSLibrary_ VaE 77 VIDEO AS EVIDENCE: COLLECTION PLAN V 1.0