IRIN Geneva launch event

The number of people affected by humanitarian crises has more than doubled over the past decade. Climate change, population growth, volatile markets, water scarcity, sectarianism and the mushrooming of armed groups and extremists are pushing more and more communities to the edge. A record 60 million people have fled their homes and are currently displaced. The media has a crucial role to play in providing responsible coverage of the global crises that confront us. After nearly 20 years as part of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the world’s first humanitarian news service IRIN recently spun-off to be better able to critically analyze the emergency response industry. This event marks our establishment as an independent media organization and the opening of our new headquarters in Geneva. Tune in to hear our take on the crises of the day.

Official Opening & Introductory Remarks
Ambassador Valentin Zellweger, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations in Geneva
Olivier Coutau, Delegate to International Geneva

Keynote Address
Yves Daccord, Director-General of the International Committee of the Red Cross

Panel Discussion with IRIN journalists from the field
Moderator: Howard French, President of IRIN Association and Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist, author and professor
Panelists:
Obi Anyadike, Editor-at-Large
Kristy Siegfried, Migration Editor
Tom Westcott, Contributor in Libya
Sam Okiror, Contributor in Uganda

Showcase of IRIN’s investigative reporting unit
Ben Parker, Head of Enterprise Projects

Chair
Heba Aly, Director of IRIN

Geneva Humanitarian Connector

Remote participation in this event was made possible through the Geneva Humanitarian Connector, an initiative of PHAP supported by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.