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WK 314 Using unarmed accompaniment to protect threatened human rights defenders

A big challenge in expanding people’sparticipation in human rights efforts in repressive or conflict-ridden societies is protecting human rights defenders from threats, arrest, imprisonment, torture and death. Nonviolent, unarmed accompaniment – ranging from foreign volunteers to strategic institutions – can deter violence and discourage potential perpetrators.

Panelists

Featured Tactic: Liam Mahony, Peace Brigades International, USA Complementary Presentations:

• Zorana Smiljanic, National Democratic Institute, Serbia
• Margarita Assenova, Freedom House, Uzbekistan Project

Featured Tactic

Accompanying human rights activists to protect them from danger Liam Mahony, Peace Brigades International, USA Peace Brigades International (PBI) sends international observers to accompany human rights activists who are threatened by the government or paramilitary organizations. They serve as a reminder to perpetrators of human rights abuse that the international community is watching. In the event of an abduction, the observer alerts authorities in the country, their own native government and activists around the world. This brings the influence of the foreigner’s government and international contacts to bear on the perpetrators. Although the volunteers are the most visible symbol of the accompaniment tactic, the success of the approach depends on an international awareness of the situation through an extensive support network of concerned individuals and supporting organizations. This network is ready to apply special pressure in crisis situations involving PBI volunteers and the people they are protecting. Through e-mails, faxes and letters sent to authorities in the country in which the crisis is occurring, the recipients are made aware that the eyes of the international community are upon them. In selective situations, PBI also uses a high-level alert network of influential political and diplomatic authorities when it wishes to apply potent pressure. These are people who have especially strong influence on the government authorities in the country concerned.

Complementary Presentation

Zorana Smiljanic, National Democratic Institute, formerly of Otpor!, Serbia

• View Zorana Smiljanic’s PowerPoint presentation 51 KB

Otpor! (Serbo-Croatian for "Resistance!") prepared "Plan B" demonstrations outside of police stations to respond to arrests during demonstrations in Serbia. Whenever the police arrested activists, Otpor! instantaneously launched a second operation of people at the police stations to protest the arrest. The events at the police station became media showpieces, calling attention to the injustice of the arrests and the illegitimacy of the regime. They also provided encouragement to the arrested activists, turning them into national heroes, rather than forgotten victims.may experience.

Complementary Presentation

Margarita Assenova, Freedom House, Uzbekistan Project Freedom House uses its status as a foreign organization to set up office space that provides a "safe gathering space" for human rights defenders to gather. Freedom House is also prepared to use its international position to call attention to any pressure or harassment that the human rights defenders