War Crimes Archive
The War Crimes Archive is a research project documenting evidence of war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. It compiles reports, testimonies, and multimedia sources to preserve historical records and support accountability efforts.
Background
- This is a crowdsourced digital archive systematically collecting and documenting alleged war crimes, using open-source intelligence (OSINT) methods — geolocation, video analysis, satellite imagery, and witness testimony.
- Similar to projects like Bellingcat or Mnemonic's Syrian Archive, it aims to preserve verifiable evidence for future legal accountability, even when current international bodies cannot act.
- The site appears to focus on conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan — three active war zones with extensive documentation by civilians and combatants alike.
- Why it matters: As wars become more documented in real-time by smartphones and drones, such archives serve as potential evidence for the International Criminal Court (ICC) and national war crimes tribunals, but also raise questions about verification, propaganda, and the line between documentation and advocacy.