UK Displaced Journalists Initiative

Doughty Street Chambers and Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB) present the launch of this initiative to support displaced journalists in need of relocation and international protection,

Background

Since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in 2021, journalists have been at grave risk not only from working in their fields but also of living in the country. Doughty Street Chambers and Leigh Day Solicitors are working on behalf of eight eminent Afghan former BBC World Service journalists. As a result of their extensive work and their high profile they seek relocation to safety.

The Initiative

The UK Displaced Journalists Initiative is launched by Doughty Street Chambers in partnership with Talent Beyond Boundaries, a nonprofit working to connect employers looking to hire displaced talent. This initiative aims to aid  journalists at risk and the refugee crisis.

Through the Displaced Talent Mobility Pilot, developed by TBB in collaboration with the UK Government, skilled refugees, including journalists, can be recruited by sponsoring employers to work and in some cases also bring their direct dependents with them. The Initiative will summon journalistic and media organisations who are in a position to hire highly skilled journalists and lift them out of precarious situations. The briefing note is available here.

Event details

The Displaced Journalists Initiative will be launched on Monday July 17th at 5:00 P.M. at Doughty Street Chambers (54 Doughty St, London WC1N 2LS).

This will be an exclusive information session for organisations interested in hiring new talent while also supporting the refugee crisis, and journalists at risk. The event will discuss the displaced mobility scheme, including the stages of the recruitment process and its practicalities. It will discuss the profiles of the  eight eminent Afghan journalists (preserving anonymity) and how the Displaced Journalists Initiative can help them and others at risk. It will share positive experiences of the mobility pilot, from employers, and from highly skilled workers who have moved to safety.

We would be happy to discuss the talent mobility scheme and any opportunities, in person or remotely, or provide any further information. Please contact us:

Catherine Meredith, Doughty Street Chambers C.Meredith@doughtystreet.co.uk.

Erin Alcock, Leigh Day EAlcock@leighday.co.uk.

To secure your place , sign up here.