IRRC No. 900

“A horrific photo of a drowned Syrian child”: Humanitarian photography and NGO media strategies in historical perspective

Reading time 11 min read
Download PDF
This article is also available in

This article is a historical examination of the use of photography in the informational and fundraising strategies of humanitarian organizations. Drawing on archival research and recent scholarship, it shows that the figure of the dead or suffering child has been a centrepiece of humanitarian campaigns for over a century and suggests that in earlier eras too, such photos, under certain conditions, could "go viral" and achieve iconic status.

Download PDF

Continue reading #IRRC No. 900

All articles

“A horrific photo of a drowned Syrian child”: Humanitarian photography and NGO media strategies in historical perspective author: Heide Fehrenbach, Davide Rodogno

11 min read

Technological change and the evolution of the law of war author: Rain Liivoja

8 min read

The state of conflicts today: Can humanitarian action adapt? author: Claudia McGoldrick

11 min read

The updated Commentary on the First Geneva Convention – a new tool for generating respect for international humanitarian law author: Lindsey Cameron, Eve La Haye, Heike Niebergall-Lackner, Jean-Marie Henckaerts, Bruno Demeyere

6 min read

The ICRC’s legal position on the notion of armed conflict involving foreign intervention and on determining the IHL applicable to this type of conflict author: Tristan Ferraro

10 min read

Protecting the past for the future: How does law protect tangible and intangible cultural heritage in armed conflict? author: Christiane Johannot-Gradis

9 min read

The danger of “new norms” and the continuing relevance of IHL in the post-9/11 era author: Anna Di Lellio, Emanuele Castano

7 min read

Reconciling the rules of international humanitarian law with the rules of European human rights law author: Claire Landais, Léa Bass

7 min read

Factors shaping the legal implications of increasingly autonomous military systems author: Tim McFarland

10 min read

The future of warfare: Are we ready? author: Randolph Kent

15 min read

Interview with Balthasar Staehelin author: Balthasar Staehelin

2 min read

Resolutions of the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent author:

10 min read

More about Children, Protected persons, History, International Review of the Red Cross

article IRRC No. 922

At risk and overlooked: Children with disabilities and armed conflict author: Emina Ćerimović

63 min read
article IRRC No. 922

“I'mpossible”: Some challenges of implementing international law in the area of humanitarian affairs for persons with disabilities author: Mar Maltez

29 min read
article IRRC No. 920-921

The view of the past in international humanitarian law (1860–2020) author: Antoon De Baets

100 min read