Abuse of power
Definition
The use of legislated executive or other authorised powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. An illegal act by an office holder constitutes abuse of power only if the act is directly related to his/her official duties.
Access denied
Definition
Acts that:
• Prevent an organisation from reaching beneficiaries or potential beneficiaries to conduct needs assessments or deliver aid or services.
• Prevent beneficiaries from reaching services provided by an organisation.
Accusation
Definition
A charge of wrongdoing laid against an organisation or its employees by the authorities of the host country.
Application of laws
Definition
The application of existing or new laws executive orders decrees or regulations that when applied have an actual effect on the delivery of aid. This may include the confiscation of equipment or putting people/organisations on watch lists.
Arrest
Definition
An employee is taken into custody usually following formal charges by a person/group operating in a governmental capacity (such as the police).
Attack on another organisation
Definition
Reported attack on another organisation that did not affect one’s own organisation directly.
Charges
Definition
Refers to the formal accusation made by a governmental authority asserting that somebody has committed a crime.
Checkpoint
Definition
A non-border or frontier checkpoint in areas controlled by the military, paramilitary, or an armed group that aims at monitoring or controlling the movement of people and materials. The checkpoint impacts the provision of aid or access to services.
Denial of visa
Definition
Delay or denial of an official stamp visa or other permit granting permission to an aid organisation employee to enter a country or territory to deliver aid.
Detention
Definition
Keeping an employee in custody, or in temporary detentions for hours or days, prior to official charges or without laying any official charges.
Expulsion
Definition
The act of forcing an employee or organisation to leave a country or territory.
Face-to-face harassment
Definition
Incidents in which an employee is directly harassed by a person or group of people (e.g. harassment over the organisation’s programmes or programme activities).
Face-to-face intimidation
Definition
Incidents in which an employee is directly intimidated by a person or group of people (e.g. when a staff member feels intimidated by armed actors patrolling near a food distribution activity or site).
Face-to-face threats
Definition
Incidents in which an employee is directly threatened by a person or group of people should include some form of consequence for non-compliance (e.g. a threat of retaliation for not including someone in an organisational activity).
Fine
Definition
Money that must be paid by the organisation as a punishment for not obeying a rule or law.
Forced closure
Definition
Order by the government or other authorities to halt operations in a country or territory; includes closure affecting only one or multiple programmes.
Government action
Definition
Action by a host or donor government that has a direct or indirect impact on the financial ability of an agency to deliver aid includes freezing funds introducing taxes or ending subsidies.
Imprisonment
Definition
The holding of an employee in a known official or unknown location such as a prison often after formal charges have been laid.
Introduction of laws
Definition
The drafting or passing of laws executive orders decrees or regulations that when applied will have a potential or actual effect on the delivery of aid. This may include but is not limited to restrictive registration procedures import regulations or a law/regulation that requires the regular disclosure of an organisation’s financial sources.
Investigation
Definition
Incidents in which an external actor initiated an investigation either for legitimate reasons or for unspecified or assumed political reasons.
Natural disaster
Definition
Actual or forecasted natural disaster that occurs, or is predicted to occur, in a city or country in which the organisation has an office. Natural disasters may include earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, tornadoes, damage producing storms (hail, flash floods), floods, or tsunamis.
Property entry/search
Definition
Entry into or search of a premises by external authorities.
Remote threat against agency
Definition
Incidents in which the organisation or an employee receives a threat not delivered face-to-face but by some remote mechanism (e.g. email, SMS, phone, or general threats issued on a website or social media). May include direct threats shouted by civilians during demonstrations.
Remote threat against organisation or staff
Definition
Incident in which an employee or organisation received any form of a specific threat that was not delivered face to face. These can include direct threats delivered by email SMS or phone or general threats issued on websites in the media or in public statements including in the form of demonstrations by angry civilians. Remote threat incidents have ‘Communication’ as the coding under ‘TypeOfArea’.
Reputational risk
Definition
Incidents involving a perceived real actual or potential risk to the organisation’s branded logo/emblem image or reputation.
Takeover/occupation of organisational offices
Definition
The seizure and occupation of an organisation’s building warehouse or compound by civilian or government agents.
Threat of closure
Definition
Incidents involving the threat of forced closure of an activity programme or organisation.
Witness
Definition
Incidents in which a staff member witnesses an attack or crime against another staff member family member(s) or beneficiaries.
