Episode 3: A slow opening at MSF
In 2006, following MSF’s internal reorganisation, MSF Operational Centre Amsterdam (OCA) refocuses advocacy on the Rohingya marking a shift in its approach to testimony. To bypass Myanmar’s restrictions, strengthened through violent crackdowns on protesters after 2007’s Saffron Revolution, most of the speaking out concerns the fate of unregistered refugees in Bangladesh. Nonetheless, in Myanmar, MSF OCA speaks out on the humanitarian consequences of state-sponsored discrimination, repression, and lack of access to healthcare for both the Rohingya and people living with AIDS.
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This podcast series is adapted from the MSF Speaking Out Case Study “MSF and the Rohingya 1992 – 2014”.
It brings to light two decades of MSF advocacy activities as part of its humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya people in Bangladesh and Myanmar.
It examines the challenges that MSF teams in the field and headquarters encountered when deciding whether and how MSF could publicly speak out about the plight of the Rohingya facing persecutions and violence in Myanmar and Bangladesh. During the 1992-2014 period, MSF worked mostly through diplomatic channels “behind closed doors” to advocate about the Rohingya’s plight with foreign diplomats and United Nations agencies. This “silent advocacy” was challenged within MSF by those who felt that the lack of public speaking out meant MSF was abandoning a persecuted population. To maintain an operational presence without speaking out publicly was not seen as an ethically justifiable option for an independent and impartial humanitarian organisation like MSF.
Over 7 episodes, the podcast explores the challenges, dilemmas and internal disagreements underlying MSF’s humanitarian response to assist the Rohingya under the Myanmar authoritarian regime.
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This podcast series is written, produced and mixed by Andrea Rangecroft.
Editorial direction is from Nancy Barrett and Laurence Binet.
The narrator is Claire Lubert.
Extracts are read by Clive Hayward and Lucy Scott
The voiceovers are by Kevin Halliwell, Charles Nove and Alex Vincent.
The music is by Lost Harmonies and Peter Sandberg.
Photo crédits: Giulio Di Sturco
A special thanks to Rian Landman
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