Mary O’Shea is Head of Programmes at the Rory Peck Trust, an organisation dedicated to the support, safety, and welfare of freelance news-gatherers around the globe.
In this role, Mary oversees all the Trust’s programmes and initiatives in support of freelance journalists. Mary is also a board member of the ACOS (A Culture of Safety) Alliance, a coalition of major news companies, journalism organisations, and freelance journalists, seeking to develop worldwide protection standards.
Prior to joining the Trust, Mary worked extensively with the United Nations on human rights and elections. At United Nations Development Programme’s Asia-Pacific Regional Centre, she provided democratic governance programme, and policy support across the region.
She has also supported electoral processes and institutions in Afghanistan, Jordan, Bangladesh, Tunisia, Lebanon, Kazakhstan, Togo, Thailand, Moldova, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Maldives, and Ethiopia. Before joining the UN, Mary worked at the European Commission, monitoring and reporting on human rights and political developments across Africa.
A panel discussion on the physical, digital, and psychological risks for photographers covering political rallies, protests, and events in an increasingly polarised environment leading up to the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
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