IBA-founded eyeWitness to Atrocities receives 2026 Kluz Prize for PeaceTech Special Distinction
The International Bar Association (IBA)-founded eyeWitness to Atrocities initiative has been honoured with a 2026 Kluz Prize for PeaceTech Special Distinction in Technology in Support of Human Dignity award.
The Special Distinction recognises initiatives that demonstrate exceptional impact through technology to protect and advance human dignity. It highlights eyeWitness’ innovative approach to preserve reliable digital evidence, support the credible documentation of atrocities and strengthen pathways to accountability for potential international crimes and human rights violations.
Carrie Bowker, Director of eyeWitness, commented: ‘We are honoured to receive the Special Distinction for Technology in Support of Human Dignity. This recognition speaks to something at the heart of eyeWitness’ work: the potential for technology to support those documenting the gravest crimes, preserve vital evidence and strengthen the pursuit of accountability.’
At a time when manipulated and fabricated digital content is making it increasingly difficult to establish the authenticity of images and videos, the challenges eyeWitness was created to address are more relevant than ever. The eyeWitness app is designed to help preserve the evidentiary value of footage from the point of capture.
Claudio Visco, IBA President, stated: ‘The eyeWitness initiative demonstrates how the legal profession can work with technology specialists to address one of the defining challenges of accountability in the digital age: ensuring that evidence of atrocities can be preserved and assessed with confidence to a standard that is acceptable by courts of law. The Kluz Prize recognition is a significant acknowledgement of the work of the eyeWitness team and its partners, and of the importance of making reliable evidence available to those pursuing justice.’
Dr Mark Ellis, IBA Executive Director, noted: ‘The strength of eyeWitness lies in connecting technology, legal expertise and the needs of people documenting events on the ground. LexisNexis’ support in providing the secure infrastructure for material collected through the app has been an important element of that model. This recognition underscores what can be achieved when organisations bring complementary expertise together to help preserve evidence that may ultimately support accountability.’
Available free of charge to anyone using an Android smartphone, the eyeWitness app automatically collects and embeds critical metadata into each file, including the date, time and location data derived from GPS, nearby Wi-Fi networks and cell towers. Once captured, the files are securely uploaded to infrastructure provided by LexisNexis, whose technology and infrastructure support the secure preservation and management of material collected through the eyeWitness system.
LexisNexis’ contribution forms an important part of the technology underpinning eyeWitness’ evidence-preservation model, safeguarding potentially significant documentation over time. The partnership brings together eyeWitness’ expertise in documenting potential atrocity crimes with LexisNexis’ technology infrastructure and capabilities in information management.
The app has been used to document potential international crimes and human rights violations in a range of contexts. In Ukraine, eyeWitness footage has supported domestic proceedings, while documentation has also contributed to reports examining attacks on healthcare. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, footage captured using the eyeWitness app included images of individual and mass graves and survivors’ injuries. The footage helped corroborate historical photographs and witness testimony and was given significant weight by the domestic court in convicting two former commanders of murder and torture as crimes against humanity.
These examples represent different pathways to accountability, but each demonstrates what can happen when documentation is preserved, trusted and connected with those able to act on it. For further insights, read the Kluz Prize for PeaceTech article detailing the role of eyeWitness in supporting peacebuilding and conflict resolution efforts within humanitarian and developmental contexts.
The Special Distinction in Technology in Support of Human Dignity was formally presented at the 2026 Kluz Prize for PeaceTech ceremony on 23 September 2026 in New York.
**ENDS**
Contact: IBApressoffice@int-bar.org | media@eyewitness.global
Notes:
About eyeWitness: founded by the International Bar Association in 2015, eyeWitness to Atrocities helps human rights defenders around the world capture and use verifiable photos and videos for justice. As well as providing the specialist camera app, eyeWitness also offers training on photo and video documentation, legal expertise and links to key investigative bodies such as the United Nations and the International Criminal Court. All these services are free. By combining law with technology, eyeWitness ensures that images are not only verifiable, but that they can be used to hold perpetrators accountable in courts of law.
Charity registration: eyeWitness is a registered charity (registered number 1156242) and company limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales (registration number 08703983). eyeWitness is regulated by the Charities Commission.
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