Introduction
Kenya faces multiple challenges regarding human rights; insecurity and conflict like extrajudicial killings, competition for scarce land and other resources, negative ethnicity, poverty and corruption to name few. Through this project we will implement an up-to-date and comprehensive database on human rights (HR) violations, using the Ushahidi platform. Ushahidi means "testimony" in Swahili. It is an open source platform that ‘crowdsources' crisis information; it allows anyone to submit crisis information through text messaging using mobile phones. Ushahidi won the ‘N2Y3 Challenge' last year and implemented the tool for people who witnessed acts of violence in Kenya in the 2007 post-election period and has since seen various successful implementations.

Information access for all
The system is publicly accessible and will be promoted in mainstream, community and public media to be used as a resource. As messages come in via SMS from eyewitnesses, it can work an early alert system for some people through SMS alerts; the system will provide the following retrieval channels: SMS; a) Subscribers will be able to receive alerts of new human rights violations in their district through SMS messages; b) An on-request option will be available for any district, date and type of incident. Online: a) The Ushahidi Google Maps mash-up interface with a timeline; b) Online advanced search option.

How it works
The Kenyan public is informed on a central phone number to report human rights violations on through SMS text messages or by leaving a spoken message on a voicemail system. The reports must include the nature of the violation and circumstances, actors, date and time and exact location. In a call centre moderators process the incoming reports by reviewing, verifying, completing and finally confirming the reports. Verification of the reports will be conducted by the KNCHR through their members and networks of local journalist and informants. Confirmed reports are visualized on the map of Kenya through the Ushahidi platform implementation and any print articles, photos, video or references on internet are attached to the record.
 
The reporters
Next to the public at large we will select a limited number of human rights violations reporters from existing networks. The reporters will be chosen in strategic locations and positions, able to collect information they see or hear through non-mass media and with a high rate of accuracy. Reporters will be kept anonymous in the system for safety reasons. We aim for three reporters per district in Kenya. In this process we will ask the highly respected KNCHR to assist and advise on the selection and guidance of the reporters.
 
Comprehensive human rights violations database
In order to make a comprehensive human rights violations database in Kenya, news items captured from the major newspapers in Kenya will be added to the database. This means the database is made comprehensive with input from the traditional media as well as the records from mobile messages. To facilitate data retrieval (see below) the data stored in the database for each record will include description of incident, nature of the violation, actors, date occurred, date reported, exact location, district, reporter name, his/her location and phone number.

Reporting and follow-up
In partnership with KNCHR the project will report on violations on an on-going basis and aggregated data will be reported on a regular basis. Furthermore, KNCHR can follow-up on incidents or trends in violations in accordance with their mandate. The database will furthermore be a research tool for external reporting, trend analysis, and media analysis (e.g. mainstream reporting versus reporting by citizens).

The implementers
Presenters of this proposal are: (1) the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights;   the KNCHR is the country's leading agency and autonomous national institution established by an Act of Parliament, with the statutory mandate to protect and promote the human rights of all individuals living in Kenya (more information: www.knchr.org); (2) Media Focus on Africa Foundation is a Kenyan NGO which strengthens the capacity for democracy and human development within societies in Africa through exchange of information and facilitation of dialogue using the media. (more information: www.mediafocusonafrica.org). The partners will collaborate closely with the Ushahidi team (more information: www.ushahidi.com)