Afghan Witness is a project that uses open source intelligence (OSINT) to independently collect, preserve and verify information on the human rights, security and political situation in Afghanistan to provide a reliable source of information for international organisations, policymakers and the media, and to raise awareness of the reality of everyday life for Afghans living in the country.
The project aims to strengthen the Afghan information environment by providing technical and financial support to Afghan researchers and civil society organisations. We design and deliver bespoke digital resilience training and resources to the Afghan human rights community, particularly those defending the rights of women and girls and minority groups. We foster collaboration between human rights defenders, policymakers and researchers to help shine a light on developments in Afghanistan.
Using open source (OSINT) techniques, the Afghan Witness project aims to increase access to reliable information and detailed analysis of the situation in the country. We also share digital skills to help researchers, organisations and individuals participate more safely in online spaces.
The Afghan Witness team is made up of both Afghan and international researchers, analysts, journalists and international experts. We keep most of the team’s identity confidential for safety reasons. The project is coordinated by the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR), a UK-based non-profit organisation with expertise in open source analysis and investigations.