Download Online resources will help East African journalists forced into exile

Online resources will help East African journalists forced into exile
The Rory Peck Trust has launched online resources in Swahili, Somali and French for East African
freelance journalists who have been forced into exile. The Resources for East African Journalists in
Exile - soon to be translated into Amharic - provide a one-stop shop of information on the refugee
process in Kenya and Uganda, practical tools to help journalists improve their security and safety, plus
detailed guides on where to find support locally and regionally.
Hundreds of journalists - most of them freelance - have been forced into exile in East Africa in recent
years. Most flee to Kenya and Uganda from Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia where violence, death threats
and imprisonment for journalists is commonplace. Rather than finding safety, most are plunged into a
new hostile environment where they face harassment, racism and poor living conditions. Security is a
big problem, as many of those fleeing violence continue to be threatened because of their work.
"These resources are the result of several years' on-going work consulting with partners on the ground
and with freelance journalists who have been forced into exile", says Vincent Guermond, Rory Peck
Trust's Researcher for Sub-Saharan Africa. "We have been supporting large numbers of East
African freelancers with individual assistance grants, but we wanted to do something that would help
them in the long term. Most fleeing journalists have had no time to prepare for life in their new country
and arrive without any real knowledge of how to register as a refugee or find a place to live. These
resources will help them navigate all that and give them the tools they need to help them manage their
own security. By translating them into Swahili, Somali and Amharic they will be easily accessible to
those who need them most."
The resource - also in English - has a dedicated URL: http://exiledjournalists.org and forms part of the
Rory Peck Trust's online resources for freelancers. Funded by the Open Society Foundations, and
dedicated to the needs of freelance journalists and newsgatherers worldwide, they provide practical
information, support and guidance on topics such as safety and risk assessment, digital security,
insurance and professional development.
The Rory Peck Trust is uniquely dedicated to the safety, support and welfare of freelance
newsgatherers worldwide. www.rorypecktrust.org
For further information contact Molly Clarke, Head of Communications: Tel:+44 (0) 203 219 7861
Email: [email protected]