---

The Afro- Community Support Organisation is one of the signatories to the Code of Conduct on Images and Messages. 

“The images and messages used to portray people, places and situations in the developing world can have an enormous impact on people’s perceptions and attitudes. People have different opinions on what constitutes ‘acceptable’ in relation to images and messages in development and depending on their end use, different people, often within the same organisation, may champion certain images and messages but reject others”

“Images include any visual representations of people, situations and places whether through photograph, picture, illustration, cartoon or video. Messages include spoken or written communications, whether captions,

headlines, sub headlines, case studies, articles, radio/television interviews, speaking in public fora, advertisements representing people, situations and places. Images and messages can be communicated through a variety of channels including press, radio, TV, websites, magazines, spoken word, SMS, billboards, posters, brochures, flyers, press statements, interviews, marketing material and internal literature” (Download the full guide to the code from the DOCHAS website http://www.dochas.ie)

 

 

Guiding Principles

Choices of images and messages will be made based on the paramount principles of: Respect for the dignity of the people concerned; Belief in the equality of all people; Acceptance of the need to promote fairness, solidarity and justice. Accordingly, in all our communications and where practical and reasonable within the need to reflect reality, we strive to: Choose images and related messages based on values of respect equality, solidarity and justice; Truthfully represent any image or depicted situation both in its immediate and in its wider context so as to improve public understanding of the realities and complexities of development; Avoid images and messages that potentially stereotype, sensationalise or discriminate against people, situations or places; Use images, messages and case studies with the full understanding, participation and permission of the subjects (or subjects’ parents/guardian); Ensure those whose situation is being represented have the opportunity to communicate their stories themselves; Establish and record whether the subjects wish to be named or identifiable and always act accordingly; Conform to the highest standards in relation to human rights and protection of the vulnerable people.

Please send your feedback to info@acsoni.org