A big challenge in expanding people’s participation in human rights efforts is protecting human rights defenders from threats, arrest, imprisonment, torture and death. The physical presence of nonviolent, unarmed bodyguards can deter violence and discourage potential perpetrators.
Similarly, ensuring the psychological and emotional safety of victims of abuse is essential to helping them tell their stories and curb future offenses. Whether in court, in mock tribunals or in informal community settings, when victims tell their stories they can help break the silence surrounding abuses, end impunity for perpetrators and create space for healing and momentum for change.
Accompaniment, which can take many forms, is one way to tackle these issues. Practitioners in Latin America, Africa and Eastern Europe have employed accompaniment tactics in very different ways, under varied circumstances.
Example 1: Protecting and Encouraging Threatened Activists with Unarmed International Accompaniment
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 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.
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Example 2: Using Briefers to Provide Emotional Support for TRC Testifiers
The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) gave victims the opportunity to testify and be supported before, during and after the process. The TRC selected briefers, usually ministers, social workers and nurses from the community to provide this support. As a consequence of the sustained, supportive accompaniment of briefers during the entire process, victims better understood their legal, emotional and practical positions. Thus, they felt they owned the process and were able to contribute in an important way.
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Example 3: Using Secondary Protests to Support Arrested Activists
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 at the police stations to protest the arrest, where they remained until the detainees were released. 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.
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Additional examples of accompaniment:
Nigeria
Accompaniment for Victims Testifying about Violence against Women at a Mock Tribunal
The New Tactics Database contains a searchable listing of nearly 150 innovative tactics. Click here to learn more.
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