What is Documentation?
Documentation is a process of protection and promotion of human rights. It is recorded by collecting facts of restriction or limitation of freedom or human rights. The information must be thoroughly, systemically accurate and complete. This is for the credibility and the effectiveness assurance when it comes to studying this information for analysis, research or news report on advocacy activities.
Why documentation is important?
Due to advanced development of information technology such as Social Network, internet users can very easily share the information regarding human right abuse without verify the information. Unintentionally, this causes false information. In some cases the information can be used for personal benefits. All this only makes it difficult for human rights groups. Even the media or press often gives false information on the issue for their commercial factors. This is why proper documentation is important, because it is a reliable source that can be supported against information in confusions and conflicts.
What information does Freedom of Expression Documentation Center collect?
We have been doing this since 2011. Our work covers cases of rights abuse/violation and limitations to freedom of expression, regarding lawsuits and law enforcement in Thailand. We also look at other forms of abuses such as threats and pressures imposed by officials. The term of Freedom of Expression is based on international human rights standards, especially with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), a Covenant Thailand has been a party with since 1996.
Although the freedom of expression is limited when it is against Thai law, the Center still records those limitations. We believe that all limitations whether under the jurisdiction or not, should be recorded. Information collected includes cases of Thailand Penal Code Article 112 or lèse majesté law, Penal Code Article 116 or an allegation for incitement and causing disturbance in the country, and Computer-related Crime Act 2007. Other types of threats against freedom of expression are also recorded. This includes military visits to social activists’ places, as well as orders to shutdown media, press and websites.
How is data collected?
After the purposes, cases, and sources of limitations and abuses are clearly identified, data collection methods can be various and depends on availability of sources and data collectors, and safety and ethics. However most of the data collected are from interviews and reports of those who are directly involved with cases. The interviewees are the defendants, the plaintiffs, the lawyers, or the relatives. It is possible to interview officials, and to obtain official documents that is released to the public, for example the judgements, trial records, and trial observations. We too cross-check news reports from reliable news agencies with different news agencies. We also observe the sites such as where the protests took place.
As soon as there is a report on violation or limitation of freedom, the most suitable method at the time will be carried out to collect data. For instance, if we meet the defendant at the court by any chance, we can ask for an interview. When news is reported on a website, the data will be collected electronically. Other data collection methods will be applied when necessary for the completion and accuracy from a reliable news source. Whichever methods used, the data will be recorded in registration forms, called Case Form. Once checked, the information will be published online. The internet users can access and search from our database system. For safety, privacy and ethical reasons of our data collectors and of the victims and of the defendants, some of their identities and names are withheld. For our information to be up-to-date, we will keep tracks of progress of cases or any important status until a case is closed. For some cases this includes after the judgment is announced or when the detainees are released.
Freedon of Expression Database: The Foundation of Creating Human Rights Awareness in Our Society
iLaw publishes information on abuse of rights in Thailand, so that Thai people can access and search for more information on our website. It is for the public and media to keep updated and to be more interested in human rights issues as civic responsibility for democracy.
We hope that when the information is thorough and accurate, it is beneficial to public campaigns on demanding policies and laws that are met international standard for defending and protecting human rights. It is the first step to bring violators in to justice. Another essential aspect for having such detailed information is that the government officials are aware of exercising and enforcing the law. The authority will consider that their action will be monitored by the public. iLaw also believes that our documentation is a great reference for the media and for domestic and international human rights organizations
