INSI Appeal - letter from our President
Source : INSI 15.07.2009
Dear INSI supporters,
2009 is another dangerous year for journalists and other news media, and a very challenging one for the International News Safety Institute. As Honorary President of INSI I write to appeal for sustained support in this harsh economic climate.
INSI has really come of age in our sixth year of operation. We have become genuinely global in impact, consolidating our unique position as the world's sole organisation totally dedicated to the safety of journalists and other news professionals in hostile environments of all kinds.
Our achievements are real, and practical.
We have provided safety training free of charge to more than 1,200 news media in 20 countries; we helped persuade the UN Security Council to pass Resolution 1738 on the safety of journalists in conflict zones; we have established our website www.newssafety.org as a one-stop-shop for news, information and advice on safety matters for journalists covering, or planning to cover, dangerous stories; we have set up a kidnap-hostage help network. And much more.
The need for our work is palpable. More than 1,400 journalists and other news professionals have died trying to cover the news since 1996, and there is little let-up. We count at least 40 casualties half way through 2009.
Yet INSI struggles to find the resources to meet the constant demand for our life-saving work. We battle to provide threatened journalists around the world with the knowledge and training to survive the story. Our existing members do what they can, but we need more money to grow and respond more effectively in dangerous regions.
We plan more safety training projects in danger spots such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, Somalia etc. We need to build up our regional information and assistance networks to go to those most in need. We have to train more trainers to work locally to help their colleagues in the most efficient and timely way. And we have to bolster our advice and information service so that it is more effective in realtime.
Please help us in our critical work. We are a non-profit so every cent raised goes back into news media safety for those in direst need. Go to www.newssafety.org and donate to INSI or join up yourself or your news organisation as a member.
What better way to honour our thousand dead friends by helping save the lives of a thousand more who have yet to go into danger on behalf of us all!
Thank you.
Chris Cramer
Honorary President
International News Safety Institute
Residence Palace, Block C
International Press Centre
155 Rue de la Loi
1040 Brussels, Belgium
INSI is a non-governmental organisation established on 3 May 2003 by a unique coalition of news organisations, journalist support groups and humanitarian campaigners concerned by the rising numbers of journalists killed around the world.
