Personal Risk Assessment Guide
Below is an example of a Personal Risk Assessment Guide prepared for COP27 which took place in Egypt.
Adapt the questions for the event you will be attending and, together with a friend, consider your responses. As you complete the assessment, think about your own wellbeing. What steps can you take to prepare mentally? What support might you need from others?
| UNDERSTANDING | ||
|---|---|---|
| QUESTION | ANSWER (inc. risks identified) | SAFETY ACTIONS |
| 1) What information is available about me if someone searches my name on Google? What information is publicly available about me on social media? Could any of this information raise alarm in the eyes of an official? Does this information indicate aspects about my activism or my identity that may increase my risk in Egypt? e.g. my involvement in sensitive campaigns, my sexual orientation or gender expression | e.g. Articles I shared in the run up to COP which were critical of the exclusion of Egyptian YCAs. | e.g. Delete posts critical of Egypt and check my social media setting to ensure new and old posts can only be viewed by friends. |
| 2) What information is available about me if someone searches my device? | ||
| 3) Has my activism attracted any significant or unwanted attention to me or groups I am involved in in the past? For example: being questioned by authorities, detained or arrested, appearing in the news, receiving threatening messages. If yes, how might this affect my participation at COP? | ||
| 4) What actions am I planning to participate in at COP? Are these actions likely to draw negative attention from Egyptian authorities? e.g. Because of the type of action or because of speaking out on themes to which the Egyptian government is sensitive. Are these actions likely to draw any negative attention in my home country that might increase my risk on return? | ||
| 5) What support networks do I have in place while at COP? |
| STRATEGISING | ||
|---|---|---|
| QUESTION | ANSWER (inc. risks identified) | SAFETY ACTIONS |
| 6) What are my logistics arrangements for attending COP? What steps can I take to ensure my safety and avoid unwanted attention? e.g. being conscious of what I pack, cleaning my devices and social media profiles in advance, planning to share accommodation with a trusted friend, coordinating on meeting points and sharing rides | ||
| 7) How can I prepare for my participation in actions and what steps can I take to minimise any risks I have identified? e.g. ensuring I understand the plan and any back up plans communicated by the organiser, connecting with others in my support network to ensure I have a buddy to check in with before, during and after attending actions, having important phone numbers written on paper or written on my body in case I lose access to my phone |
| RESPONDING | ||
|---|---|---|
| QUESTION | ANSWER (inc. risks identified) | SAFETY ACTIONS |
| If an incident takes place, how will I respond? What steps will I/we need to take? Who will I call first? Do I have the relevant numbers? Who can coordinate support? Have I shared details of my emergency contacts at home with relevant others? |