Media Handbook for National Human Rights Institutions There may be times when it is not appropriate for your NHRI to speak publicly on an issue. For example, there may be legal reasons – court proceedings may be underway or a report may be before the parliament – or it may be more effective to work towards a certain outcome through confidential negotiations with another party. It is important for NHRIs to remember that the decision about whether or not to engage with the media on a particular issue is theirs to make. Weighing up the advantages against the possible consequences will help determine the best course of action. Photo by SurfaceWarriors is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. 1.7. RESPONDING TO A CRISIS There may be times when the NHRI becomes the centre of a major story, for all the wrong reasons. The manner and the speed with which the NHRI responds to the crisis can help limit the potential damage to its reputation and to its relationships with key stakeholders. Some crisis situations can happen quickly and unexpectedly. Others may be anticipated in advance. While the circumstances and nature of the crisis will vary, it is essential to have a clearly defined process in place to assess and respond to the issues at hand. The following checklist provides a process for managing the situation and responding to the media. Chapter 1: Working effectively with the media | 11