Sources and methods

The news summaries on the Voice and Witness site are compiled from published feeds and indexes of established news publications that cover our core focus: the right in question, the violation documented, and the mechanism that could provide a remedy. Each story is identified by this editorial spine. An automated process assists in extracting the core factual claims, which are then rewritten into a concise, plain-English summary. The original publication is always credited as the source, and a link is provided to the full report.

When a factual claim appears in only one source publication, it is treated as an allegation from that outlet. It is included within the summary but is not used to build or update the site’s permanent reference pages. This approach ensures that the foundational reference material is based on information corroborated across multiple reliable reports or on established legal and institutional frameworks.

The reference pages for rights, countries, mechanisms, laws, monitors, and themes are built differently. They are constructed from stable, verified facts. Each page centres on a factual table that details the core information, such as a legal definition, a mechanism’s mandate, or a country’s ratification status. This is accompanied by a single, credited photograph that is representative of the subject. These pages are not dynamic news summaries but consolidated reference points.

All news coverage on Voice and Witness is refreshed daily as new reports are published and processed. The permanent reference pages are reviewed and updated on a scheduled cycle to reflect significant legal developments, changes in institutional mandates, or major shifts in a documented situation. This ensures the site’s information remains current while distinguishing between immediate reporting and established reference material.