Compelling evidence of atrocities gathered by courageous local organizations routinely never reaches a prosecutor. Not because it doesn’t exist, and not because it lacks merit – but because there is too often a gap between the organizations that gather it and the authorities who can act on it.
At Evidence Linked, we specialize in the review and evaluation of pre-existing documentation gathered by civil society organizations (CSOs) and serving as a trusted intermediary to present the materials to national authorities. When more well-organized case leads -- supported by court-ready evidence -- make it into the hands of national authorities, more human rights prosecutions make it to court.
There is no lack of evidence; just a lack of connection. Let’s work together to link evidence to national authorities and move one step closer to ending impunity.
At Evidence Linked, we help turn human rights documentation into prosecution-ready cases
What makes Evidence Linked Different?
Evidence Linked does not represent survivors or witnesses. This allows objectivity in evaluating each piece of evidence. Our duty isn’t to any one individual; it is to identify and build prosecution-ready cases.
Led by a former national human rights prosecutor, Evidence Linked views all documentation through a prosecutorial lens: always vetting documentation with an eye towards investigative viability, considering what documents and personal accounts can become evidence, and evaluating what evidence will be admissible in court.
Evidence Linked cultivates its longstanding relationships with national authorities directly, only providing them with actionable leads, corroborated evidence, and prosecution-ready materials to facilitate their work. This allows national authorities to waste less time evaluating vague or ill-defined leads, freeing up more time to run their investigations.
About the Executive Director
Courtney Spivey Urschel
As a former US human rights and war crimes prosecutor, now based in Geneva, Courtney knows what prosecutors look for when evaluating evidence packages and case leads. While leading the human rights portfolio for nearly six years at the US Department of Justice, she tripled the number of atrocity-related prosecutions, including the first two US war crimes indictments and four torture prosecutions. She knows well what evidentiary leads result in case openings – and which don’t – and how prosecutors evaluate information as evidentiarily viable and sufficiently supportive of a formal investigation.
Through Evidence Linked, Ms. Urschel counsels civil society organizations on how best to identify leads worth investigating and connects prosecution-ready evidence to appropriate national authorities all with one goal: promoting justice for victims of atrocities.
