The following text was displayed alongside this collection of images in an exhibit for the Oslo Negative photography festival, 11-26 October 2025.
-------
From Distance to Solidarity:
Decolonizing Humanitarian Photography

From its beginnings, humanitarian documentary photography has sought to inspire compassionate action. But too often, a lens of Western white privilege has repeated stereotypes of powerless victims that create distance from the viewer rather than solidarity.

Doctors Without Borders has not been immune to this pattern. We were founded by both doctors and journalists in 1971 with the dual mandate to provide medical care where needed most and to speak out about the realities we witness. Documentary photography has long been an essential tool to raise funds, raise awareness and recruit staff. We often presumed to be “voices for the voiceless”. But of course, everyone has a voice, including those who have been intentionally silenced or marginalized.

Reality check

In 2020, more than one thousand current and former staff of Doctors Without Borders signed an open letter denouncing “racism and white supremacy that shape the culture and mindset that still defines our organization: the white European ‘expert’ and the ‘distant other in need’.”

Rooted in colonial history, such “white savior” stereotypes distort the current reality in Doctors Without Borders: Four out of five of our colleagues are hired locally in the countries where we work. Of those who leave their home countries to work internationally, two-thirds come from Africa, Asia and Latin America. Their perspectives, voices, and images — those closest to the places where we work — should be at the center of our story.

From voices for the voiceless to nothing about us without us

Decolonizing our storytelling requires changes on both sides of the camera. Our new visual standards promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and an anti-racist approach for both those producing our images and those represented in them:

• Prioritizing photographers from the regions portrayed whose portfolios demonstrate ethical storytelling

• Active collaboration and co-creation with patients and local staff

• Informed consent to ensure that people understand and affirm how their image will be used

Decolonial perspectives

Every photograph in this exhibit was created by artists rooted in the places where we work. It includes 30 photographers from 22 countries. These photographers embody decolonial perspectives by having ethnic, cultural or linguistic connections to the communities they portray, as compared to a traditional photojournalist on assignment from abroad. The images were selected in collaboration with colleagues around the world with similar origins or identities, including leaders in our DEI and anti-racism efforts.

Questions to consider while viewing these images:

• Does the image convey dignity and respect?

• Who is centered? Who has agency? Who takes action?

• Would I want myself or a loved one to be shown like this?

• Does the image create distance from or nearness to the people shown?