Beyond the Hashtags: The democratic impact of Ukrainian NGOs’ digital activism
An analysis of how human rights online monitoring and exposing affects democratic values in Ukraine.
Introduction
“On March 18, the Russian military came to my home. Under the threat of physical violence against my family and me, they took me to their car. They took me to one of the agricultural facilities, where they tied my hands, lifted me up on an electric winch, and began to hit me with weapons, butts of machine guns, bats, and wooden sticks, forcing me to cooperate with them”.
On February 24th, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine. Since then, thousands of people have suffered similar human rights abuses at the hands of Russian-aligned soldiers, and hundreds have shared their experiences on social media. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has reported numerous violations, such as arbitrary deprivation of life, arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance, torture and ill-treatment, and conflict-related sexual violence (OHCHR 2023). In such dire situations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play a crucial role in human rights activism. Their activities include education, monitoring, investigating, and reporting human rights violations, advocacy, lobbying and “fostering the democratisation and development processes” (Goel and Tripathi 2010: 769).
The Internet and Web 2.0 advances have transformed how NGOs can support and advocate for human rights causes. Web 2.0 refers to Internet platforms that “allow for interactive participation by users”, which includes the development of social media platforms (Joseph 2012). Social media as a tool for communication and a source of information offers new possibilities for human-rights-centred NGOs (HR NGOs) to monitor and expose human rights violations. Tv he interactive nature of social media allows victims to share their experiences, which HR NGOs can relay to the rest of the world, while calling upon international judicial institutions (ibid). Thus, social media allows for a greater impact of HR NGOs’ advocacy efforts. Likewise, the ubiquity of digital tools and the broad dissemination of information online gives everyone a chance to become human rights monitors (Poblet and Kolieb 2018).
Despite the numerous benefits and opportunities of social media, some scholars warn of its dangers and question the effectiveness of NGOs in human rights activism. For instance, Joseph (2012) demonstrates how social media can be used for oppression and to spread hate, propaganda, and undemocratic values. Similarly, Gladwell (2010) argues that social media promotes “slacktivism” or low-risk activism, as it requires little effort and discourages people from actively pursuing meaningful change. Furthermore, many scholars are sceptical about the effectiveness of NGOs’ monitoring and exposing human rights violations. They point to other actors being more successful (Franklin 2008), scrutinise NGOs for reinforcing existing power structures (Steele and Amoureux 2005) and promoting neoliberal rather than democratic values (Gianni et al. 2021). However, in Ukraine, NGOs’ work and social media use seem to promote democratic values by consistently monitoring and exposing violations while calling for justice.
Hence, this paper will attempt to answer the following research question: To what extent do NGOs’ monitoring and exposing human rights violations through social media promote democratic values in Ukraine? This research aims to explore the process and challenges of HR NGOs monitoring and exposing human rights violations through social media platforms and how it affects democratic values. By conducting in-depth, semi-structured interviews, this study finds that HR NGOs actively promote accountability, civic participation, and freedom of expression through their monitoring and exposing activities. From an academic perspective, this research contributes to the scholarly debate on the effectiveness of NGOs’ use of social media platforms to encourage the proliferation of democratic values. By exploring how HR NGOs in Ukraine utilise these platforms for activism, this research sheds light on the potential of social media to amplify voices, encourage participation, and call for post-conflict accountability measures. From a societal perspective, this research is significant as it documents how NGOs in Ukraine fight to protect human rights during the war. It highlights the ongoing violations in Ukraine and the importance of monitoring and exposing such abuses. Furthermore, understanding how the process of monitoring and exposing human rights violations through social media affects democratic values can facilitate the strengthening of democratic culture in Ukraine.
How monitoring and exposing human rights violations through social media by Ukrainian HR NGOs during the war promotes democratic values
Before diving into how NGOs monitoring human rights violations through social media in Ukraine promote democratic values, it is important to understand what this process entails. According to the interviews, most of the HR NGOs in Ukraine use the Berkley Protocol for Digital Open-Source Investigations. The Berkley Protocol sets out the principles and guidelines for investigators to conduct their work professionally and facilitate the “preservation of open-source information for potential use by accountability mechanisms” (OHCHR 2022). The investigators – NGOs – use publicly available information to conduct formal and systemic inquiries online into alleged wrongdoings (ibid). In Ukraine during the war, where the number of human rights violations is rising daily, and the possibility of conducting physical investigations is limited, digital open-source investigations are among the few available avenues to bring offenders to justice.
The work of Ukrainian NGOs in monitoring and exposing human rights violations during the war reveals their deep commitment to pursuing justice. Firstly, they do so by collecting crucial evidence for post-conflict accountability measures. Through open-source investigations of social media platforms, such as Telegram or Facebook, human rights violations can be discovered. With the aim of understanding the context of the crime, its location and motives, NGOs collect as much evidence as possible. As one of the interviewees pointed out, “We may not have direct evidence of the crime, but millions of pieces collected […] give an understanding of the context of the crime”. Therefore, by putting pieces together and triangulating evidence from different sources, NGOs gather proof that can then be transferred to the authorities and used for prosecution. Moreover, by documenting the location where Russian troops penetrated Ukrainian territory, their actions, and the date(s) at which occupation began, NGOs gather crucial information to prove later that Russian aggression is a flagrant violation of international law and systematically perpetuates human rights violations. This information was particularly crucial at the beginning of the invasion, as it helped combat the lies and propaganda that “they [Russians] are not there”. Hence, the work of HR NGOs, particularly monitoring social media networks and gathering evidence of the crimes, is crucial for ensuring the accountability of the Russian state.
Nevertheless, the interviews revealed a significant challenge faced by some HR NGOs in Ukraine – finding individual perpetrators. A representative of ZMINA notes that there is a strong call for justice and accountability for individuals, even from the lowest ranks of the Russian army. However, some NGOs struggle to answer that call and find the perpetrators; as a representative from the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group (KHPG) explains, “we do not use any advanced methodology, hacked databases, paid cards, Maxar and such. And even some open sources, which are less known than Google Maps”. Therefore, monitoring online has limits regarding the advancement of individual accountability. On the contrary, the other NGOs have been more successful in identifying individuals responsible for human rights violations. By scanning both Russian and Ukrainian platforms, ZMINA was able to identify a person responsible for torturing people in an “improvised detention camp”. As a result, demonstrating that online monitoring has the potential to bring criminals to justice and promote individual accountability.
Furthermore, the monitoring activities of Ukrainian HR NGOs online provide valuable insights into how these organisations contribute to promoting civic participation. Firstly, by meticulously monitoring social media platforms and discovering individuals who suffered from human rights abuses, NGOs can amplify their voices. An interviewee from KHPG noted that “the main task of our activities on social media is to strengthen their [victim’s] voices”. By recognising individual experiences and exposing them to the world, Ukrainian NGOs bring attention to the plight of the victims, thus generating empathy and solidarity among the wider audience. The narratives of the victims humanise and materialise the issues of human rights abuses, creating a call to action for other citizens to become involved. Through this process, Ukrainian NGOs ensure that victims are not silenced, and their voices are heard and given a spotlight, hence promoting participation from other citizens to join the cause and advocate for justice.
The interviews with HR NGOs in Ukraine reveal another aspect of their monitoring activities that promote civic participation. To ensure the credibility and authenticity of claims about human rights violations, NGOs often conduct “fact-finding missions”. These missions involve going to cites of the crime and “communicating with people there, receiving statements and documenting all the events that people lived through”. Therefore, by involving citizens in human rights monitoring, HR NGOs bridge the gap between victims and society. Which, in turn, fosters a culture of human rights awareness and encourages individuals to take an active role in defending and promoting democratic values.
Another intriguing change in how the war has transformed the documenting activities of HR NGOs in Ukraine is that these organisations started to cooperate with the Ukrainian State authorities, as the national system is unable to cope with the increasing number of violations and war crimes. An interviewee from KHPG notes that “We cooperate with Ukrainian authorities as much as possible, with the Prosecutor General’s Office, with the SBU [Security Service of Ukraine] in the Kharkiv region. It was unexpected for us”. Therefore, suggesting that the war has changed the dynamics between the state and civil society. As such, Ukrainian HR NGOs are now taking on a more active role in engaging with the state to address human rights abuses. An interviewee from ZMINA also mentions that “what we find on social media is transferred to the authorities, and they work with it”. This demonstrates that HR NGOs play a crucial role in facilitating the flow of information between citizens and state institutions. By actively sharing their discoveries and collaborating with authorities, HR NGOs contribute to the civic participation of both NGOs and citizens.
The promotion of freedom of expression is an essential characteristic of the work carried out by the Ukrainian HR NGOs through monitoring and exposing human rights abuses on social media. By enabling citizens to express their opinions, concerns, and experiences freely, these organisations play a vital role in assuring that the voice of civil society is heard. As the Center for Civil Liberties (CCL) pointed out, “As long as the public sector is heard, there is a good indication that democracy is flourishing in Ukraine”. In Ukraine, the civil society’s voice has become increasingly robust through the efforts of NGOs. A representative of CCL asserts that “Ukraine can be proud of its strong and diverse civil society”.
Moreover, they point out that NGOs’ efforts in monitoring human rights violations and promoting freedom of expression have been recognised by Ukrainian citizens. “Often, local organisations that work directly in the production of material evidence have more trust from victims than the national authorities, and people go to them”. Therefore, through their monitoring efforts, HR NGOs in Ukraine provide a safe and inclusive space for individuals to share their voices, views, and experiences without fear of reprisal. This encourages a culture of open dialogue, diversity, and free flow of information – all of which are essential elements of freedom of expression in a democratic society (Bychawska-Siniarska 2017).
However, the interviews highlight the sensitive nature of monitoring and documenting human rights violations, as such a process can negatively affect individuals’ mental health. As described by a representative of KHPG: “We always try not to traumatise people; we understand that they have a lot to explain, and it is traumatic for them”. It is imperative to approach this work with caution and sensitivity, considering the risk of re-traumatising people who have experienced human rights abuses. Therefore, NGOs’ encouragement of freedom of expression is restrained by the traumatising nature of the information that the victims are asked to share.
Despite the challenges posed by the war context and the difficulty of finding individual perpetrators, HR NGOs promote democratic values of accountability, civic participation, and freedom of expression through online monitoring activities. The analysis of Ukrainian HR NGOs’ work disputes some of the assumptions in the literature on international NGOs. Particularly, the notion of NGO-ization, which suggests that market-like competition and the embeddedness of NGOs in the existing power structures restrains their abilities for co-operation and leads to upward accountability. The findings from the interviews reveal the collaborative nature of NGOs in Ukraine during the war and their commitment to downward accountability. Through their exposure of violations online, the work of HR NGOs in Ukraine contends the “slackstivist” critique of social media. It demonstrates how these platforms can be used for the effective promotion of democratic values. The NGOs’ posts provide tangible evidence, maintain objectivity, and stress the demand for justice, thereby advancing accountability.
The findings of this analysis demonstrate that some of the negative consequences of NGO-ization did not take place in Ukraine, specifically the depoliticization of social movements and the restructuring of the public good along “neoliberal, individualistic lines” (Gianni et al. 2021). By constantly referring to the ongoing human rights issues as “Ukrainian” and emphasising “their” duty, Ukrainian HR NGOs facilitate the promotion of democratic values and collective good, rather than neoliberal values and individualism. Finally, by referring to the war as “not the war between two countries, [but] the war of two systems – authoritarianism and democracy”, NGOs highlight the political aspect of human rights violations during the war. Hence, emphasising the political nature of the human rights violations. Overall, the analysis highlights the importance of civil society in upholding democratic principles and striving for justice and human rights in difficult circumstances.
Conclusion
In summary, this study highlights the vital role of HR NGOs in promoting democratic values. Their online activism can be compared to a lighthouse illuminating the vast ocean of digital discourse. Just as a lighthouse guides ships to safe harbours, HR NGOs’ digital presence and advocacy efforts serve as beacons of democratic values, including accountability, civic participation, and freedom of expression. They cut through the fog of misinformation, shining light on human rights abuses and holding governments accountable. With their firm dedication, NGOs act as guardians of democracy, guiding individuals towards the shores of active citizenship and empowering them to raise their voices, navigate troubled waters, and chart a course towards a more inclusive and just society.
Author: Polina Moroziuk, BSc Political Science, University of Amsterdam (UvA).
