Purpose and overview
Accountability Watch Afghanistan (AWA) operates a public Human Rights Violation Documentation Portal through which individuals and communities can report human rights violations, abuses and threats, or submit updates to existing cases. This report documents the purpose of the portal, the information it collects, the safeguards that protect submitters, and the categorisation framework that structures the evidence AWA receives.
The portal exists to collect information, evidence, testimonies and relevant documentation regarding alleged human rights violations and abuses in Afghanistan. Submitted information and materials are securely preserved, verified, and analysed to document human rights violations, identify patterns of violation, support research, advocacy, reporting and accountability efforts, and to inform protection responses. Where applicable, AWA may refer qualified cases to national and international human rights mechanisms. Submission of cases does not, however, guarantee immediate intervention or direct assistance.
How submitted information is used
Submitted information and materials are securely preserved, then verified and analysed. AWA uses them to:
- Secure storage and preservation of submitted information and materials.
- Verification and analysis to document violations and identify patterns of abuse.
- Support for research, advocacy, reporting, and accountability efforts.
- Informing protection responses where appropriate.
- Referral of qualified cases to national and international human rights mechanisms, when applicable.
Submission of a case does not guarantee immediate intervention or direct assistance.
Consent and data rights
By submitting information through the portal, the submitting party grants AWA permission to save and securely store the information and materials submitted, and to use them for analysis, reporting, and referrals to human rights accountability mechanisms when applicable.
Under applicable privacy and personal information laws, individuals who submit personal information may request access to, correction of, or deletion of any information or materials submitted. All submitted information, including the identity and details of the submitting party, is securely stored. AWA does not disclose any information to any third party unless explicitly authorised by the submitting party or parties.
Data safety and risks
Submitters should assess their own security context before using the portal. The following advisories apply to every submission:
Before submitting
Do not submit from a device, network, or location that may put you or affected people at risk, or if you are currently not comfortable relating to the incident.
Evidence safety
Remove sensitive metadata from photos, videos, screenshots, and documents when possible. Remove sensitive or unauthorised personal information from files before uploading.
Urgent risk
If there is immediate danger, use the safest trusted emergency channel available to you rather than this portal.
Uploaded files may contain identifying metadata. Files remain private and are quarantined for review. Up to 5 files, 5 MB each and 10 MB total, may be attached to a single submission.
Categories of violations documented
Submitters record the type of violation experienced. AWA documents the following categories:
- Threats or intimidation
- Arbitrary detention
- Physical assault
- Torture or ill-treatment
- Violent attack / atrocity
- Land grabbing
- Gender-based discrimination and violence
- Ethnic discrimination and violence
- Enforced disappearance
- House raids / searches
- Restriction on movement
- Online harassment or surveillance
- Forced displacement
- Family targeting / reprisals
- Other
Alleged perpetrators
Where known, submitters identify who allegedly committed the violation. The portal records the following perpetrator categories:
- Taliban authorities
- Non-state actors
- Community members
- Family members
- Unknown actors
- Other
Rights categories tracked
Cases are associated with the rights area(s) affected, supporting pattern analysis across AWA's documentation:
- Civil and political rights
- Social and cultural rights
- Religious or belief rights and freedoms
- Freedom of expression and peaceful assembly
- Freedom of movement
- Land, property, housing and development rights
Types of submission and submitter role
Each submission is classified by type:
- A new case
- Reporting a violation that has not previously been submitted to AWA.
- An update to an existing case
- Adding information, evidence, or developments to a case already on file.
- A request for urgent intervention
- Flagging a situation requiring urgent attention.
Submitters identify their relationship to the case:
- For yourself
- On behalf of another person
- On behalf of a group or community
Where a submission is made on behalf of others, the portal records whether the affected persons consent to the submission:
- Yes
- No
- Unable to obtain consent due to security concerns
Information collected per submission
The portal structures each submission into two sections. Only information that can be safely disclosed should be shared; fields marked required are necessary to submit the form.
Section 1 — Details of the human rights violation
- Type of violation experienced
- Date of incident
- Location of incident (country / province / district / city)
- Affected group, where applicable (e.g. women, children, elderly persons, ethnic or religious minorities, sexual/gender minorities, people with disabilities, displaced persons, returnees)
- Alleged perpetrator(s), if known
- Detailed description of the incident
- Whether there were witnesses
- Whether threats or harassment preceded the incident
- Whether the incident was reported to any authority or organisation, with details
- Supporting evidence (photos, videos, PDFs, or documents)
- Additional comments or urgent concerns
Section 2 — Submission information
- Date of submission
- Preferred language of communication
- Submission type (new case, update, or urgent intervention)
- Full name of the person submitting the case
- Submitter's relationship to the case (self, another person, or a group/community)
- Contact information (Signal, WhatsApp, or email)
- Safest method of contact
- Any security concerns regarding communication
- Current country and location of the affected person(s)
- Consent of the affected persons to the submission
Contacting AWA
Where internet access is unreliable or unsafe, AWA can be reached on Signal or WhatsApp at +1 672-336-5725. Submitters may also provide their preferred contact channel and safest method of contact within the form.
Use the portal
To submit information about a human rights violation, or to update an existing case, use the documentation portal. A complete guide to using the portal is available as a PDF.