Who we are
We identify, document and denounce state violence that harms the visual integrity of people in contexts of protest, detention and public order policing. Our work focuses on the technical and scientific analysis of police and military devices, particularly those classified as “less lethal,” whose design, manufacture and use can cause irreversible eye damage.
We investigate the technological evolution of these weapons, their global trade, their deployment mechanisms and the patterns of use that lead to serious injuries. Since its founding, CIIVO has developed a line of research that is unique in Latin America, combining engineering, public health, human rights and comparative studies of state repression.
We apply interdisciplinary methodologies to gather evidence, reconstruct cases, analyze patterns of violence and produce specialized reports. We collaborate with human rights organizations, legal clinics, international research networks, journalists, survivors and affected communities. We also work with academic institutions, multilateral bodies and technical experts to strengthen standards, reduce harm and promote global prevention measures.
We:
- Monitor and analyze the use of less-lethal weapons —such as kinetic impact projectiles and acoustic, chemical, light-based and pneumatic weapons— to expose their technical risks and their impact on vision.
- Produce rigorous, accessible and timely information for organizations, institutions, victims and media outlets that require reliable evidence for public advocacy.
- Collaborate with national and international networks to denounce policing practices that violate human rights standards and to demand institutional accountability.
- Support processes of memory, documentation, reparation and visibility for people affected by eye violence.
- Promote technical, legal and policy recommendations that strengthen controls, prevention and the prohibition of practices that cause irreversible harm.
CIIVO is an independent organization with a clear mission: to protect eyes as a fundamental right and to combat contemporary forms of violence that seek to silence, punish or demobilize people. We carry out direct support on the ground, develop long-term research and demand that those who committed abuses be held accountable.
Our work depends on the solidarity and support of those who believe in the defense of human rights. If you would like to support our research and our work, click here.
