Our New Tactics resource for the January Featured Discussion - Unarmed Accompaniment is Side by Side: Protecting and encouraging threatened activists with unarmed international accompaniment by Liam Mahony.

Since the mid-1980s, human rights groups and other activist organizations being targeted with repressive abuses have been calling on international NGOs to provide them with direct accompaniment by international field workers. The international presence serves as a deterrent against the use of violence. (See the diagram, "Intervention Pattern: 3" regarding the points of potential intervention carried out by those who provide accompaniment)

This tactical notebook provides an excellent resource for organizations already in the field providing unarmed accompaniment as well as for those who are interested in this life-saving tactic.

Join the on-line discussion on Unarmed Accompaniment to share your experiences, ideas and questions.