Burkina Faso has introduced new regulations preventing humanitarian organisations from taking or publishing degrading photographs and videos of people receiving aid, saying vulnerable communities must be treated with dignity rather than portrayed as objects of pity.
The directive, issued by the Ministry of Humanitarian Action, applies to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and humanitarian agencies operating across the country. It prohibits the creation and use of images that humiliate or exploit aid recipients for fundraising, publicity or communication campaigns.
Under the new rules, organisations must ensure that photographs, videos and other communication materials respect the privacy, image rights and informed consent of beneficiaries. Authorities said humanitarian assistance should never come at the expense of an individual’s dignity or personal rights.
The government stressed that the policy is not a general ban on photography. Instead, it specifically targets images that depict people receiving humanitarian assistance in humiliating or degrading circumstances, particularly where such material is used to attract donations or public sympathy.
Officials said the new framework is intended to discourage what they view as the exploitation of poverty and human suffering for promotional purposes, while encouraging more ethical communication by humanitarian organisations.
The measures form part of broader reforms by Burkina Faso’s military-led government to tighten oversight of humanitarian operations. Earlier this year, authorities dissolved more than 100 civil society organisations and revoked the licences of several foreign NGOs as part of what they described as efforts to strengthen regulation and accountability within the sector. Human rights organisations, however, have expressed concern that some of the reforms could further restrict civic space.
The announcement has generated widespread discussion across Africa after misleading social media posts claimed Burkina Faso had prohibited photographs of Africans altogether. Government officials have clarified that ordinary photography remains lawful and that the regulations are limited to exploitative portrayals of people receiving humanitarian assistance.
Supporters of the policy have welcomed it as an important step towards protecting the dignity of vulnerable communities, while some humanitarian organisations are expected to review their communication practices to ensure they continue documenting humanitarian needs without compromising the rights and privacy of those they assist.
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