INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SUPPORT (IMS): TAKING ACTION TO PROTECT

A covers a protest in Baku, Azerbaijan demanding the release of political prisoners. Photo: IRFS IMS’ SAFETY PACKAGE

TRAINING PRACTICAL MEASURES ADVOCACY

Journalism ethics 24/7 telephone hotlines Monitoring attacks on media Training in principles of ethics and good practice, concerning An emergency phone line that media workers can call Research and awareness-raising that draws attention to media the duties, responsibilities, and rights of journalists. when in danger to receive appropriate legal advice or other safety issues and provides a basis for subsequent advocacy. emergency assistance. Media laws and codes of conduct Dialogue between security forces and media Legal training for journalists, press regulatory bodies, media Safe houses Facilitated discussions between media workers, authorities, lawyers, judges, and authorities to help ensure laws and codes Discrete places away from the firing line, where media workers and security forces aimed at making each party more aware of of conduct are adhered to. and their families can seek refuge. each other’s roles.

Conflict sensitive journalism Safety funds for emergency assistance Media law reform Training in journalism techniques that enables journalists to cover­ Funds quickly available that cover legal assistance, medical Initiatives that seek to change laws that are used to intimidate conflict professionally without fanning the flames of conflict. treatment or safe passage for media workers under attack. and censor the media, and to ensure that media workers enjoy greater legal protection. Risk analysis Safety equipment Courses that provide media workers with holistic knowledge of Bulletproof vests, press jackets and other equipment that give Campaigns promoting the safety of journalists what to do when faced with danger, and how to avoid placing media workers added protection. Awareness-raising among media workers, decision makers and oneself in danger. the public about issues of media safety. Legal assistance First aid skills Legal expertise and funds to fight court cases. Coordinated international support Training in first aid to enable journalists working in conflict to Collaboration between international partners in countries assist themselves and others. Trauma counselling where media workers are under sustained attack. Psychological help given to media workers who have witnessed Secure communications traumatic events, as well as training in how to deal with such Guides and handbooks Techniques that enable media workers to avoid having their experiences. Resource materials on safety for media workers, media phones tapped and online communications intercepted. trainers and decision makers.

he mantra sounds so logical: “No story is workers need to be able to assess and mitigate safety equipment. When there is an immedi- Tworth dying for”. Yet journalists and me- the risks they face, to deal with the psychologi- ate need for protection or for taking journal- dia workers continue to be killed, attacked and cal consequences of working in conflict, and to ists out of harm’s way, we employ safe houses intimidated more than ever before. The critical practice professional journalism under pressure. where they and their families can seek refuge. threats they face at increasingly complex and in- We also make telephone­ hotlines available that terrelated levels – on battlegrounds and in cyber- The IMS approach to media safety combines journalists in danger can call for advice and as- space, from repressive governments to organised training, practical measures, and advocacy. Some sistance. IMS also administers safety funds to crime – require well-designed and carefully cho- of the tools we use are reactive: designed to pro- help journalists under attack to seek refuge, sen approaches to make them less vulnerable. tect journalists and media workers when they and to pay for urgent medical treatment or are in danger. Others help prevent them from ­legal assistance. IMS utilises a combination of methods and tools getting into danger in the first place. Rarely are to enable local journalists and media workers to all the tools used at once. Rather, they are ap- Advocacy spans local and global campaigns on survive and continue to provide the public with plied strategically to suit the needs of the media media safety aimed at influencing both media accurate, reliable information under the most and the political contacts in each country. First aid training in Sudan. Photo: Michelle Betz/IMS and government policies and practice. Media challenging of circumstances. violations are documented and, where possible, Training ranges from basic first aid and learn- the evidence is used in court. IMS also supports ing how to make a risk analysis of the working indigenous languages and adapt course content the production of handbooks for journalists on THE IMS APPROACH TO MEDIA SAFETY environment to enabling journalists to produce to their local context. safety. At a local level we encourage dialogue and stories that are professional and which defuse understanding between journalists and mem- Our work on media safety goes beyond simply rather than exacerbate conflict. Where possible, Practical measures cover legal advice and bers of the government and security forces to ensuring physical safety. Journalists and media IMS qualifies local trainers to deliver training in trauma counselling, logistical support, and overcome mutual mistrust. PUTTING OUR APPROACH In authoritarian states where there is little pos- INTO PRACTICE sibility of influencing government policies, our priority may rather be to ensure journalists are Before intervening anywhere, we assess the needs less susceptible to or surveillance by of journalists in the country concerned. We do this providing legal protection or training in secure in close consultation with local partners and other online communications. international press freedom organisations to en- sure that subsequent interventions address local To be effective in the long run, our safety work priorities and complement existing efforts. must be anchored in local organisations and ultimately integrated into government policy. In an armed conflict or in areas of human in- Therefore, our media safety initiatives are im- security, our response is likely to include per- plemented through trusted and influential lo- sonal protection equipment and training in con- cal organisations and individuals, as well as with flict sensitive journalism to ensure journalists international bodies. Launched in 2012, the UN are protected from further attacks, and avoid Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists exacerbating the conflict with their coverage. and the Issue of Impunity provides a com- mon platform on which media and civil society In countries where a democratic transition is un- organisations, UN bodies and crucially govern- derway, but some repression or pockets of vio- ments can share and harmonise their approach lence remain, our efforts may focus on trying to to improving the safety of journalists. In part- influence policies and practice through advocacy nership with UNESCO and Open Society Founda- and media law reform. In an emerging democracy, tions, IMS will be rolling out the Plan over the media also have a crucial part to play in furthering coming years in , Nepal, South Sudan, dialogue and peace by practicing journalism ac- Iraq, Honduras, and Mexico. cording to recognised professional standards.

Afghanistan: The personal cost of surviving a story

Aasif used to work for one of Kandahar’s most promi- While they sought refuge in a safe house at a secret nent media outlets. A young and committed journalist, location, the Safety Committee and IMS arranged the he reported critically on the Taliban and the Afghan gov- practical details of their evacuation out of the country. ernment. He was aware his writings might cause him Aasif and his wife were provided with new passports, and his family trouble, but dedicated to his trade he felt but fearing that their family members might suffer re- compelled to go on. vengeful attacks, they were torn between whether to go or stay. After days of unbearable contemplation they After months of continuous threats from the Taliban decided to flee. The couple now lives in Europe, but re- and the Afghan intelligence agency, including warnings main traumatised by their experience. Members of their that he would be stoned to death unless he ceased his family have since been killed as an act of retribution by reporting, the intelligence agency paid a visit to Aasif’s the Taliban. workplace while he was away on business. They also stopped by his home to threaten and mistreat his wife. The IMS Afghanistan safety mechanism The Afghan Journalist Safety Committee manages a Following this escalation of threats, Aasif’s employer country-wide safety mechanism which includes a Free- contacted the coordinator of the IMS-founded Afghan dom of Expression monitoring unit that documents Journalists’ Safety Committee in Kabul. After investi- violations against journalists; a provincial safety team, gating the case and verifying the threats against Aasif a 24-hour telephone emergency hotline, safe house fa- using its network of provincial representatives, govern- cilities, a safety fund for emergency support and practi- ment authorities, tribal elders, and other sources, the cal safety training for journalists that includes trauma Safety Committee determined his threat level at 5, the counselling and conflict sensitive journalism training. highest level on a scale from 1. This warranted immedi- ate protection and evacuation of Aasif and his wife.

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