A Shared Data Model for Improved Documentation of Human Rights Violations.

The article focuses on the development of OntoRights, the first shared ontology designed specifically for documenting human rights violations to support human rights groups in managing complex case databases. Developed in collaboration with the Geneva-based civil society organization HURIDOCS, OntoRights addresses the need for a generic, modular, and customizable data model that can represent diverse aspects of human rights documentation, including legal implications, organizational structures, and information management. The ontology was created using design science research methods, incorporating input from human rights practitioners through surveys and interviews, and extends the legal core ontology UFO-L. While evaluations found OntoRights useful and adaptable, challenges remain regarding ease of use for groups with limited technical expertise, leading to the release of simplified versions to enhance accessibility. OntoRights is openly available online and holds potential for future applications in system integration, artificial intelligence, and semantic web technologies to improve information sharing within the human rights community.