3. COLLECTION OF INFORMATION This Chapter presents important guidelines and best practices on how to collect information on serious human rights violations and, importantly, on what not to do. It should be read in conjunction with the ethical principles that were discussed in Chapter 2. 3.1 Documentary Information This section discusses the basics of the collection of information, including the types of hard copy and digital documentation, how to secure and maintain the probative value of the documentation, how to document a chain of custody for any documentary information, a number of apps that help secure and establish the verification and authentication of digital information, and how to produce photographic and video images. 3.1.1 Hard Copy Documentation Unofficial investigators may encounter physical, paper documentation containing information on serious human rights violations and potential international crimes. Hard copy documentation may include the following types of documents that have been used in pursuit of redress for serious human rights violations, but could also take other forms: • • • • • • • • State or corporate documents Letters written by government officials or soldiers Minutes of corporate or state officials’ meetings Financial records Medical reports Maps Printed images Logbooks or diaries.74 74 Marie Nystedt (Ed.), Christian Axboe Nielsen, Jann F. Kleffner, A Handbook On Assisting International Criminal Investigations, THE FOLKE BERNADOTTE ACADEMY, 62 (2011), available at http://folkebernadotteacademy.se/Documents/Kunskapsomr%C3%A5den/Rule%20of%20Law/A%20Hand book%20on%20Assisting%20International%20Criminal%20Investigations.pdf. 59