Sharing information among victims as a tool against power abuses

Meeting and sharing information and experiences with other victims can establish that the response efforts are being well-received, or that there are ways in which communities can be useful to the response team, for example. On the other hand, it could also reveal that certain populations or ways of life are being neglected by response efforts, that legitimate concerns about impact are not being addressed, or that there are deliberate attempts to minimise damage to reputation at the expense of those affected.

Cultural Factors: Livelihoods, Communication, Social exclusion

Hazards: Natural hazards, Man-made non-intentional hazards or emergency situations, Man-made intentional hazards

Disaster Phases: Response

Types of Actors Concerned: National civil protection body, Local authorities, Non-active citizens, Government, Red Cross, NGOs, Military, Law enforcement agencies, Healthcare and emergency services, European Civil Protection Mechanism, UN and other international organisations

Recommendations:

• Limit cases of power abuse by protecting whistle-blowers and encouraging the formation of advocacy and/or pressure groups