The Casualty Recorders Network – an international collective of independent casualty recording organisations from across the globe – has always been at the heart of our work. Since the beginning, we have worked in collaboration to improve documentation of all casualties of armed violence.
Casualty recorders are the people who see the individual tragedy in every life lost, and commit to recognising it. Through their work, they bear witness to the impact of armed conflict. By recording each victim, they ensure casualties are not just counted – they are valued.
Some casualty recording organisations have dozens of staff, others are run by single volunteers working alone. They work in active conflict zones as well as post-conflict societies where families are still looking for answers decades after violence officially ended. They compile media and military reports, interview witnesses, check hospital records, and slowly piece back together the story of a life torn apart.
Casualty recorders often work at great personal risk, jeopardising their own lives in order to memorialise the lives of others. They do it because they believe in the value of every human life – that every body deserves a name. Their work is of infinite value to the bereaved, who long to know the truth about the fate of their loved ones. Only once the facts are known, recorded, and acknowledged, can communities begin to move on from violence. Real peace cannot be built on lies and concealment.
Since 2014 Every Casualty Counts has provided training, support, advice and solidarity to casualty recorders across the globe through the Casualty Recorders Network. Active for over a decade, the Network now has almost 70 members.
Thank you so much for organizing such an important event. We know how much time and effort it takes to pull something like this together. And we’re very grateful for all you’ve done – not only for this exhibition, but throughout the past six months, from regular consultations to Lera’s trip to Geneva and so on. We truly appreciate everything you both do.
EMAIL FROM Network Member
Working in partnership
We are proud to work with members of the Casualty Recorders Network, and other allies, to ensure every casualty is recorded. Our community is based on shared commitment, mutual benefit, and respect for every individual.
We recognise that Network members are the experts. We don’t tell them what to do or how to do it – they tell us what they need and we work together to address their priorities. We harness the collective expertise of the membership to provide peer support and training where it is most needed. Combining the decades of collective experience within the Network we have compiled a resource library packed with guidance on every aspect of recording casualties. The materials are constantly updated and freely available to all members, so they can learn from each other.
We raise funding to support Network members who are sometimes the only source of reliable information on the impact of conflict. We facilitate their participation in international security, humanitarian and human rights meetings. We also provide personal as well as technical support for people conducting work which has a heavy emotional toll.
Thank you again for your support! These are very difficult times and your interest in helping makes us realize we are not alone!!!
Thank you again!!!
email from Network Member