1.1 CARE’s communications principles

CARE’s communications and advocacy should reflect that CARE is an independent, non-partisan, non-sectarian organization dedicated to ending poverty and providing humanitarian assistance. CARE’s media work in emergencies should:

Uphold the dignity of those affected. CARE is signatory to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief, which stipulates that in our communications and media work, we shall recognize disaster survivors as dignified people, not hopeless victims. We will highlight the severity of a situation and the needs and rights of survivors, but also their resilience and their ability to be equal partners in the recovery and response.

Focus on women and girls. CARE places special emphasis on reaching and empowering women and girls in emergencies, recognizing that they are disproportionately affected by disasters. Our communications should emphasize CARE’s work to help women and girls as well as how women and girls are specifically affected by the emergency.

Do no harm. We will make every effort to ensure that CARE’s communications will not endanger lives, relationships, programs or funding, and have the goal of helping/benefiting the people we serve in the country/situation.

Be grounded in CARE’s expertise and program experience, and based on a thoughtful, credible and supportable analysis of what we know about the issue and impact on the people we serve in the country/situation. We use a serious, authoritative and generally non-confrontational tone.