Benetech Human Rights Data Analysis Group (HRDAG) designs and builds information management solutions and conducts statistical analysis on behalf of human rights projects. With our partners, we make scientifically-defensible arguments based in rigorous evidence.

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On Methodological Grounds, HRDAG Team Members Call Into Question the Conclusions of Academics on Union Violence in Colombia

May 28, 2010, Palo Alto, CA, Bogota, Colombia — Megan Price and Daniel Guzmán of the Benetech Human Rights Program released a paper today entitled "Comments to the article 'Is Violence Against Union Members in Colombia Systematic and Targeted?'" which examines an article written by Colombian academics Daniel Mejía and María José Uribe. Their paper engages an important academic debate about the nature of union violence in Colombia.

The paper reviewed by Price and Guzmán concludes that ". . . on average, violence against unionists in Colombia is neither systematic nor targeted." However, in their response, Price and Guzmán present - in technical and methodological detail - the reasons they find the conclusions in Mejía and Uribe's study to be overstated. Price and Guzmán believe that weaknesses in the data, in the choice of the statistical model, and the interpretation of the model used in Mejía and Uribe's study, all raise serious questions about the authors' strong causal conclusions.

Price and Guzmán point out that unchecked, these conclusions reached by Mejía and Uribe may distort the truth about violence against unions and can mislead important social, economic and political decisions in Colombia. They welcome the opportunity to have a methodological rather than ideological debate about union violence. Read more here.

HRDAG Publishes Data from the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission

April 22, 2010, Palo Alto, CA &mdash We are pleased to announce the publication of the data and the accompanying data dictionary from the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The statistical dataset is available on our website.

All of the personal information has been removed from the published dataset to protect the identities of victims and statement givers. The dataset can be used to replicate the analysis presented in our report, "Descriptive Statistics From Statements to the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission." The data can also be used for extended analysis of statistical patterns of human rights violations reported to the TRC.

Benetech HRDAG develops database software, data collection strategies, and statistical techniques to measure human rights atrocities. Our technology and analysis is used by truth commissions, international criminal tribunals, and non-governmental human rights organizations around the world. Our analysis identifies the trends and patterns which is the evidence of crimes of policy.

The incorporation of HRDAG into Benetech brings together HRDAG's considerable field experience with Benetech's software engineering expertise. Together, we build tools and projects that help human rights workers gather and analyze critical information.

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The Human Rights Data Analysis Group (HRDAG) was incubated for more than a decade at the Science and Human Rights Program. AAAS supports the application of science to human rights as one way that science serves society.

HRDAG is now a Benetech project. Learn more.

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The Human Rights Data Analysis Group (HRDAG) applies information technology solutions and statistical techniques to help human rights advocates build evidence-based arguments.