The MSF Speaking Out Case Studies project (also known as SOCS) provides reference documents to help MSF staff and association members understand and adopt the organisation’s culture of speaking out.

“Témoignage” (bearing witness) cannot be reduced to a mechanical application of rules and procedures as it involves an understanding of the dilemmas inherent in every instance of humanitarian action. Therefore, it was decided to produce case studies instead of a set of guidelines.
These case studies focus on crisis in which speaking out posed a dilemma for MSF and thus meant taking a risk.

The methodology aims at establishing the facts and setting out a chronological presentation of the positions adopted at the time. It enables the reconstruction of debates and dilemmas without pre-judging the quality of the decisions made.

Key information is reconstructed using documents from the period and by interviewing the main actors.

Document searches are conducted in the MSF archives and, as far as possible, media archives. We rely on these documents to establish the facts as MSF described and perceived them at the time. When documentation is missing, interviews sometimes fill the gaps. These accounts also provide a human perspective on the events and insight into key players’ analyses. The individuals interviewed speak in the language they choose, they offer both their account of events and their assessment of MSF’s response. The interviews are recorded and transcribed.

The research is constrained by practical and financial considerations, including locating interviewees and securing their agreement and determining the existence, quality and quantity of archived materials.

The main text describes events in chronological order. It includes excerpts from documents and interviews, linked by brief introductions and transitional passages. 
Preceding the main texts collected, the reader will find a map, a list of abbreviations and a summary that lays out the context of MSF’s public statements and the key dilemmas they sought to address. The summary is also available as a standalone document.

In addition, a detailed chronology reconstructs MSF’s actions and public statements in regional and international news reports of the period. Specifically related to the focus of the case study, it is not intended to be comprehensive.

The Speaking Out Case Studies were essentially designed as a resource for members of MSF. With the hope of broadening their educational scope the studies are made available on this website to the public for free in French and English.