Detected from Space: Human Rights Abuses

The same satellite technology that anyone can enjoy by using Google Earth is helping detect human rights abuses from space.

Human rights watchdogs such as Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International are using satellite technology to obtain daily global coverage and monitor situations in volatile regions.

Working with those on the ground, nonprofit organizations are able to coordinate the local incidents — whether it’s fires or phone line disruptions — with satellite imagery. The images help piece the story of what has recently happened. So far, satellite imagery has helped identify prison camps in North Korea, mass graves in Iraq and Burundi, and forced relocations in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Recently, with the help of space technology, HRW exposed an arson campaign in Myanmar targeted the Rohingya people, one of the most persecuted groups in the region.

Once used as spy technology, the commercialisation of satellites has been a game-changer for the global human rights watchdogs. Although the satellites rarely capture the exact moment of the atrocity, it is the aftermath that helps analysts put together an accurate picture. Of course, it is up to humans to accurately interpret the images produced by the satellite.

As satellite technology continues to evolve, the human rights organisations hope to make a strong case for intervention in cases of violations. The space nation of Asgardia also promotes the peaceful use of space technology, and supports the progress that has resulted in the accessibility of satellite imagery to the general public, not just to governments.

Learn more on Asgardia.Space