2024-2025 Impact Report_final version

From Pilot to Signed MOU: the State Commission for Human Rights of Baja California (CEDH-BC) and USD Copley Library Human Rights Cases Digitization Project

Since Fall 2016, Copley Library, under the direction of Dr. Ortega, has planned, supervised, and carried out the State Commission for Human Rights of Baja California (CEDH-BC) digitization project. The project digitized CEDH-BC’s paper case files from its human rights archives. These cases addressed topics such as school authority abuse of children, elderly abuse, police brutality (including both Mexican and American nationals’ cases), and various forms of discrimination throughout the State. When the project is completed, these documents will be included in Copley’s institutional repository, Digital USD, for worldwide researcher access. The Center for Research Libraries (CRL), Latin Americanist Research Resources Project (LARRP) awarded Dr. Ortega $46,000 in grant funding over three years to complete this initiative.

Left to right: Alma C. Ortega , Assistant Professor, Research and Instruction Librarian; María Elena Márquez Tavera , Coordinadora de Gabinete / President’s Commission Event Coordinator ; Theresa S. Byrd , Dean of the University Library ; Jorge Álvaro Ochoa Orduño , Presidente / President of the CEDH-BC ; Kathryn Roig , Vice President for Finance & Chief Financial Officer ; Ixchelt Guadalupe Barboza Romero , Secretaria Ejecutiva / Executive Secretary ; Julio César Paz Rodríguez , Visitador General Central / Central Chief Investigator

The project was divided into distinct phases, each building on the completion of the previous one. In Phase 1: Preparation, Dr. Ortega supervised Mexican nationals who cleaned and organized the case boxes and files. Once this preparation was complete, the project moved to Phase 2: Digitization, during which cases were digitized. After all files were digitized, Phase 3: Anonymization and Metadata Application began, where personal identifying information was redacted and metadata was applied to each case. With cases anonymized and metadata added, the transition to Phase 4: Repository Upload took place. Finally, Phase 5: Promotion will follow, publicizing the collection’s availability on Digital USD from late 2026 through 2027. On 11 June 2025, at the USD Copley Library, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the CEDH-BC and USD following extensive discussions and the successful drafting of a bilingual MOU. The signatories were Jorge A. Ochoa Orduño, President of the CEDH-BC, and Kathryn Roig, USD VP for Finance and CFO, with Ixchelt G. Barboza Romero, CEDH-BC Executive Secretary and Dr. Theresa Byrd, Dean of the University Library, serving as witness signees.

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