Video: casualty recorders discuss their motivations and work
First published 12th Mar 2013
As Samrat Sinha from the Centre for Study of Political Violence, Jindal School of International Affairs in India explains:
You can only make people realise the severity of a conflict when you create an evidence base. Otherwise, there is no recognition and no record of the severity of the suffering of these victims.
Zeeshan Usmani from Pakistan Body Count added:
Casualty recording and this conference generate an emotional thrust that we need to do something to take care of the problem of civilian deaths and the effects on the families of the dead.
The rest of the participants explain, and give examples, demonstrating how recording helps to better understand the nature of the conflict, provide insight into the socio-economic effects on families of the dead, and acknowledge victims.
Mohammad Noori from Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission says:
These people, the real voice of Afghanistan, are not heard internationally. We try to make them heard.
The interview was recorded following the first conference of the IPN held in London in September 2011. Along with the positive outcomes of recording casualties, interviewees discuss their reasons for attending the conference, and the value of the IPN to their work. They highlighted the benefits of NGO solidarity, new advocacy opportunities, and learning from the experiences of others.
The video was filmed by filmmaker Daniel Ridicki, with Oxford Research Group's Managing Director, Chris Langdon.
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