The Martus Concept
The problem is this: Human rights groups throughout the world gather and collect massive amounts of violation data. Much of it never reaches its full potential or intended audience. Instead, a large part of this information is lost due to confiscation or destruction, neglect, passage of time or because the grassroots organizations which collect the data lack the resources or infrastructure to document and communicate violations systematically and securely.

Lost information is a problem with far-reaching implications. Workers in this sector agree that timely, accurate delivery of this information is — quite simply — one of the most powerful weapons in the battle against human rights violations.

The Martus response is logical — and achievable. Benetech built an information storage and retrieval system based on client software and Internet-based infrastructure. These tools will ensure that the documentation of human rights violations is safeguarded and disseminated. This, in turn, will speed up the response to violations, and in some cases, prevent additional abuses.