1. Define the question
Each project records its human-rights question, purpose, geography, time period, affected groups, intended users and exclusions. The design distinguishes descriptive questions, legal interpretation, causal claims and recommendations because each requires different evidence.
2. Map standards and stakeholders
The research maps applicable international, regional and domestic standards and identifies institutions, communities and expertise relevant to the question. Directory coverage or a public source alone is never treated as evidence of an operational WHRF relationship.
3. Build and appraise the evidence base
Sources are logged with provenance, date, access route, relevance and known limitations. Primary material is prioritised and important claims are corroborated where feasible. Statistics are traced to definitions and collection methods; translations and extracts are checked against their context.
4. Protect people and information
Before collecting personal information or testimony, WHRF assesses consent, necessity, data minimisation, security, retention and the possibility of retaliation or re-identification. A project does not proceed when the public value does not justify the residual risk.
5. Analyse with calibrated language
The analysis separates documented fact, reported allegation, interpretation and WHRF recommendation. Confidence is not inflated by the number of sources when those sources depend on the same underlying account. Alternative credible explanations and missing perspectives are recorded.
6. Review and publish
An accountable editor checks claim-to-source alignment, method, rights framing, potential harms and clarity. Specialist review is added when the subject requires it. Publications state authorship, dates, method, sources, limitations and status, with corrections handled under the editorial standards.
7. Revisit
Time-sensitive outputs are reviewed when material evidence changes. A review may confirm the analysis, add a dated update, correct it, supersede it or retire it while preserving an appropriate public record.