Speaking out or remaining silent in humanitarian work

The ICRC's position regarding public statements is often controversial and has sometimes given rise to fierce debate. In this article, the President of the ICRC points out the ICRC's absolute commitment to remaining in close proximity to the victims of armed conflict and to uphold every possibility for constructive dialogue with governmental authorities. Only under exceptional circumstances, when all other efforts have failed, does the ICRC consider going public and only if it considers this step to be in the interest of the people concerned. The author emphasizes the need for consistency and predictability in the ICRC's public statements and argues, that the very purpose of discretion is to achieve the largest possible access to victims on a world-wide basis.