International assistance
RSF doesn't confine itself to reporting on violations of press freedom. Because journalists are persecuted and imprisoned all over the world, RSF also provides support to journalists outside of Germany on an individual basis and according to their situation in their home country or in third countries. Our aim is to help threatened journalists so that they are protected from persecution and can eventually continue or resume their journalistic work.
Our individual support includes:
- Help finding legal representation in the event of an arrest
- Temporary financial assistance
- Replacement of destroyed equipment
- Medical care and psychological counselling
- If your life is in danger: help in identifying a safe country for relocation
- Support for the families of journalists who have been arrested, kidnapped or killed.
To receive our support you must meet the following criteria:
- You are a journalist from a non-EU state (for EU nationals, see European Centre for Press and Media Freedom / ECPMF).
- Your situation is a direct result of your journalistic work
- You are being threatened/persecuted because of your work as a journalist and this has been documented and can be verified
Please note: Our support can only serve to avert or mitigate immediate threats (e.g. persecution in the home country) and provide initial emergency assistance. We are unable to provide long-term financial support, assistance with integration in other countries or individual career support.
Please note that RSF must document and verify each request independently and that this process will take some time. Moreover, many of our support services are tied to administrative procedures, so please allow at least six (6) weeks for us to process your request.
RSF regrets that it cannot provide immediate protection against an imminent threat.
German media professionals abroad
INSURANCE:
To support war reporters, RSF offers an insurance package for freelance journalists who are not adequately insured for working in a war zone. RSF membership is a prerequisite.
For more information visit rsf@battleface.com or call +44 (33) 00270999.
PRECAUTIONS:
In preparation for a high-risk foreign assignment, we recommend that you register with the Krisenvorsorgeliste (Crisis Prevention List) of the German Federal Foreign Office to help ensure that you receive expedited consular support from the German embassy in the respective country.
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
In the event of a kidnapping or major restrictions of your journalistic work, Reporters Without Borders can provide individual counselling to journalists or their next of kin and try to support consular efforts. We can also generate (media) publicity if this can be assessed to be of assistance in a specific case.
Photo credit: © Raimon Klein / RSF