363 Cases, 120+ Countries: Our Expert Witness Database

Last updated: 5 October 2026

Photo: United Nations - Steve Snodgrass

Our expert witness database is built on 363 documented asylum cases spanning more than 50 countries. It is the backbone of the country expert reports we prepare and the foundation of our analytical work. This article explains what the database contains, how it has been built, and how it supports asylum claims across major jurisdictions.[1]

For the wider framework on how expert evidence works, see our companion articles on what an expert witness is and our return risk methodology.

What the Database Contains

The expert witness database organises documented findings across several dimensions. Each case is recorded with reference to the country, the Convention ground, the risk profile, the country guidance applied, and the outcome. As a result, the database functions as both an analytical resource and a quality-control tool for the reports we prepare.[2]

• Country — the country of origin and specific region.
• Convention ground — race, religion, nationality, particular social group, or political opinion.
• Risk profile — the specific category at risk (e.g., LGBTQ+, religious convert, opposition activist).
• Persecutor — state or non-state actor.
• Documented patterns — the country-level evidence relevant to the profile.
• Country guidance applied — the relevant jurisprudence.
• Source evidence — the primary sources documenting each pattern.

Geographic Coverage

How the Database Has Been Built

The database has been built over time through the country expert reports our network has prepared. Each report adds documented patterns, source evidence, and country guidance references. The cumulative record allows experts to identify recurring profiles, track changing country conditions, and ensure consistency across reports. As a result, the database grows more valuable with each case.[3]

Cases by Convention Ground

The database tracks cases across all five Convention grounds. The distribution reflects the patterns our experts encounter most frequently.[4]

The strength of a country expert report rests on the depth of documented knowledge behind it. A database built across hundreds of cases and dozens of countries allows each new report to draw on accumulated, sourced findings — producing analysis that is both specific to the individual case and grounded in documented patterns.
The Human Rights expert network

How the Database Helps Your Case

For applicants and representatives, the database supports asylum claims in several ways.[5]

1. Profile matching — the database identifies the documented patterns relevant to your specific profile.
2. Source identification — the database links to the primary sources documenting each pattern.
3. Country guidance alignment — the database connects patterns to the relevant jurisprudence.
4. Currency — the database is updated as country conditions change.
5. Consistency — reports drawing on the database are consistent and reliable.

Conclusion

The expert witness database of 363 cases across more than 50 countries is the foundation of our country expert work. It organises documented findings by country, Convention ground, and risk profile. It links patterns to source evidence and country guidance. It grows more valuable with each case.

For applicants and representatives, the database is the resource that allows us to prepare country expert reports that are both specific to the individual case and grounded in documented patterns. Our expert directory can match a specialist to your case. See our weekly country expert database updates for the latest findings.