|
Whenever a journalist or other news media staffer is killed, we face the problem of how to follow through effectively -- how best to record the incident and seek an investigation and redress. These efforts can be enhanced if we record all details in a thoroughly professional way and submit to the authorities best placed to understand and assist. We should wherever possible raoso record the event in video or stills pictures. Information is the key. International bodies and mechanisms have been created to address the problem of suspicious deaths, but their effectiveness depends on the information which is sent to them. A lot of the information received is wasted because it is sent to the wrong body, presented in an inappropriate way, or seems unreliable. Careful preparation of your information makes it more likely that you will achieve your objectives. The Reporting Killings as Human Rights Violations Handbook is a reference guide for anyone who wishes to know how to take action in response to allegations of suspicious deaths. It explains, simply and clearly, how the process of reporting and submitting complaints to international bodies and mechanisms actually works; how to make the most of it: how you might go about documenting allegations, what you can do with the information once it has been collected, how to choose between the various mechanisms according to your particular objectives, and how to present your information in a way which makes it most likely that you will obtain a response. It can be used by any professionals or individuals who might receive such information. The Handbook can be found at http://www.essex.ac.uk/reportingkillingshandbook/index.htm |