Safety of Journalists/Aid Workers

Two headlines reflecting on 2007 highlight the security realities confronting both humanitarian personnel and journalists who work in conflict situations.

The ICRC recently held a meeting on "media safety and international humanitarian law in war reporting." This summary of the discussions includes links to relevant web sites. Other related ICRC resources are available here.

Relevant guides include:

- Live News Africa: A Survival Guide for Journalists (International News Safety Institute &
International Federation of Journalists Africa Office, July 2007) [text]

- On Assignment: A Guide to Reporting in Dangerous Situations (Committee to Protect Journalists, 2003) [text]

- Practical Guide for Journalists (Reporters without Borders, 2002) [text]

- Reporting for Change: A Handbook for Local Journalists in Crisis Areas (Institute for War & Peace Reporting, 2004) [text - scroll down to see chapters]

- Reporting Human Rights and Humanitarian Stories: A Journalist's Handbook (International Centre for Humanitarian Reporting, 1997) [text via ReliefWeb]

Humanitarian personnel are frequent targets in insecure environments. This study and its companion briefing paper provide a quantitative analysis of the "changing security environment for civilian aid operations" (p. 1). This ICRC web page provides resources for protecting aid workers under international humanitarian law.

Relevant guides include:

- ECHO Security DVD [access] [alt. version via AidWorkers Network]

- Protection Manual for Human Rights Defenders (Front Line, 2005) [text]

- Security Manual for NGOs Working in Insecure Environments (CWS, 2000) [text via ReliefWeb]

- Staying Alive: Safety and Security Guidelines for Humanitarian Volunteers in Conflict Areas (ICRC, Jan. 2006) [text via ReliefWeb]

Posted in Publications.