PRESS RELEASE
17 DECEMBER 2003, UK. Blue Sky Group International, the first security and risk management company in the UK to establish an ethical oversight committee, today announced the launch of the Blue Sky Group Foundation.
The Foundation will operate on a not-for-profit basis with national and international charities, to help them understand and manage the risks associated with delivering humanitarian assistance in hostile environments.
Blue Sky launched the Foundation following their recent experience in Afghanistan where they established a 'safe haven' for humanitarian workers and members of the media, both during and after the conflict.
Through the safe haven they were able to provide up-to-the-minute risk assessments for those operating in the region, and bring together intelligence information in one location, reducing the risks associated with operating in the environment. The team also helped a number of humanitarian organisations to deliver aid directly to those who needed it.
Robert Partridge, commercial director at Blue Sky Group International, said: "When we established Blue Sky, our founding principles included the creation of an ethical oversight committee to look at all the projects we undertake and ensure they comply with strict codes of practice.
"We invited Martin Bell, the former journalist and UN special envoy, and Sir Rupert Smith, former UN commander, to sit on the committee, and I'm glad to say they accepted.
"Establishing the Foundation is a logical next step. This kind of service has proved a great success in the market and we are already in discussions with a number of humanitarian aid agencies, including the UN, to identify the best way in which we can help them assess and manage risk, and to deliver aid more efficiently."
The Blue Sky Group Foundation is able to draw on the experience of a group which has worked in a range of environments, conducting risk assessments and providing security assistance.
These include Kosovo, Macedonia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Uganda, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Thailand, Turkey and the West Bank.
Blue Sky Group International is a leading provider of security and risk related services in the UK. The Group provides expertise to UN recognised initiatives, national and regional authorities, humanitarian projects and commercial clients worldwide.
The company seeks to help safeguard lives, property, investments and reputations by delivering the highest quality advice and analysis, training and assistance to people and organisations at risk.
Blue Sky Group was the first security and risk-related organisation to establish an ethical oversight committee. The committee includes UNICEF special representative and former MP Martin Bell OBE, Sir Rupert Smith, former Deputy Supreme Commander Allied Powers Europe and commander UNPROFOR, and Harry Langstaff, formerly of McKinsey and Company.
For further information contact:
Robert Fox
Newspoint Public Relations
01625 525251
rfox@newspoint-pr.co.uk |
