ethnic cleansing

Identity-linked selection

Record evidence that attributed ethnic or religious identity affects exposure to removal, including exceptions and mixed households.

1. Which identities do the alleged actors attribute to those selected, and how is that attribution evidenced? definition
2. What comparative evidence shows differential treatment of similarly situated people outside the targeted population? measurement
3. Which exceptions, mixed households or alternative selection explanations challenge the targeting assessment? boundary

Removal purpose evidence

Assess statements and conduct that support or undermine an objective to remove the targeted population from a defined area.

1. What territory is allegedly intended to exclude the population, and how did its boundaries change over time? boundary
2. Which authenticated statements, orders or patterns of conduct support the removal objective? provenance
3. Which competing explanations have been examined, and what evidence distinguishes them? boundary

Coercive environment

Connect reported threats, violence, deprivation or expulsion measures to the options available to affected people.

1. What specific acts or conditions made remaining dangerous or impracticable, for whom and during which period? definition
2. What testimony or contemporaneous records connect those conditions to decisions to leave? provenance
3. Was apparent consent obtained under threats or conditions that removed a meaningful alternative? boundary

Departure causation

Record origins, timing and destinations at a safe level of detail, distinguishing observed movement from inferred causes.

1. Which movements followed documented coercive acts, and which have uncertain or multiple causes? provenance
2. Where evacuation is claimed, what evidence establishes its justification, identity selection, temporary character and actual return arrangements? boundary
3. How many unique people moved, over what period, and how are repeated displacement and missing observations handled? measurement

Campaign boundaries

Group incidents through evidenced connections while retaining uncertain links and distinct local trajectories.

1. Which shared orders, actors, selection practices or coordinated events connect the incidents? provenance
2. What evidence determines the campaign's temporal and geographic boundaries rather than merely proximity between incidents? boundary

Attributed conduct

Record actor-specific allegations and supported findings without inferring responsibility from ethnicity or organizational membership alone.

1. Which actor is linked to each removal-related act, in what role and through which evidence? provenance
2. What evidence supports effective control or coordination, and what limits or contradicts that inference? boundary
3. Who controlled the affected territory when removal or obstruction of return occurred? measurement

Population change accounting

Track displacement, remaining residents and return with uncertainty and consistent geographic coverage.

1. What baseline supports estimates of the population removed or remaining, and how uncertain is it? measurement
2. How are displacement, deaths, missing persons, return and unrelated migration distinguished without double counting? measurement
3. Could changing boundaries, identity categories or observation access explain part of the measured population change? boundary

Return and residence barriers

Assess threats, restrictions, destroyed homes, dispossession and other evidenced barriers that sustain exclusion.

1. Which present barriers prevent affected people from returning or residing safely, and who maintains them? provenance
2. Do reported returns represent durable residence, temporary visits or movement under pressure? measurement
3. What would affected people need for a voluntary and safe choice among return, local integration or settlement elsewhere? action

Corroboration and contradiction

Separate observations, testimony and inference while recording contradictions and reporting gaps.

1. Which accessible source supports each claim about targeting, coercion, intent or exclusion, and what did that source directly establish? provenance
2. Are apparently corroborating accounts independent or derived from the same witness, document or report? provenance
3. What contradictory evidence or inaccessible population could materially change the assessment? boundary

Characterization status

Maintain separate assessments of ethnic cleansing and any alleged underlying crimes; the term is not a standalone international crime according to the [UN explanation](https://www.un.org/en/genocide-prevention/definition).

1. Who characterizes the episode as ethnic cleansing, using what definition and evidentiary standard? provenance
2. Which underlying crimes require separate assessment of their elements, jurisdiction and applicable law? boundary
3. Which conclusions are allegations, investigative assessments or judicial findings, and what is the precise scope of each? definition

Protective action priorities

Record time-sensitive needs and proposed measures in relation to affected people's choices and responder capabilities.

1. Which people face imminent expulsion, renewed coercion or retaliation, and what evidence establishes urgency? measurement
2. Which authorized responders can address those threats, and what preferences have affected people expressed? action
3. Could a proposed evacuation, relocation or aid condition pressure people to leave or prevent their return? action

Disclosure and referral constraints

Determine what can be preserved, shared or escalated without facilitating targeting or compromising witnesses.

1. Which identity, location or testimony details could expose survivors, witnesses or people who remain? boundary
2. What consent, authority, access restrictions and evidence-preservation procedures govern each proposed disclosure? action
3. Which unresolved findings require specialist review, and what minimum evidence can be safely referred? action