Professor Tarlach McGonagle:

Ms Evans has made the point well that voices can be raised in different ways, at different levels and in different forums. The NGO community is well familiar with a mechanism within the Council of Europe, that is, the so-called rule 39 of the European Court of Human Rights. It is not so much about raising a voice but taking an initiative to try to put a stop to ongoing grave violations of human rights by calling for interim measures.

Typically, when journalists are dealing with so-called life and limb situations where there is a real threat to their physical well-being, this is a mechanism that could be triggered to get an immediate arrest for the violating activities. That would not work in the Gaza war because it is outside the jurisdiction of the court. It is, however, a useful tool to activate where possible and to build up experience with using that mechanism.

Another way of using a voice could be in financial terms. Providing financial support to different capacity building or support mechanisms which could be financial, legal aid, counselling, training and what not. It could also be collaboration with partners in the conflict areas to try to support them in a practical way by sharing expertise or financially supporting them also.