New Tactics Logo Blue
Tactics
Protecting and Encouraging Endangered Human Rights Activists Through The Presence of International Volunteers

Peace Brigades International (PBI) sends international observers to accompany human rights activists who are threatened by their government or paramilitary organizations. Since the mid-1980s, PBI has pioneered the concept of international protective accompaniment, deploying hundreds of volunteers to conflict zones worldwide, including Colombia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Guatemala, Haiti, and El Salvador.

Protective accompaniment has three key impacts. First, it provides physical protection to threatened activists by raising the stakes of any attacks against them. Second, it promotes civil society activism by giving organizations more space and confidence to operate. Third, it strengthens the international peace and human rights movement by giving accompaniment volunteers valuable first-hand experiences.

Roles and Communication Networks

Volunteers’ roles vary depending on their assignment. Some accompany threatened activists full-time, while others are present sporadically. Some spend all day at the offices of organizations, while others live in conflict-affected rural villages. Regardless of the setting, volunteers’ presence signals that any violence will prompt an international response, acting as a deterrent.

PBI’s communication network allows volunteers to report human rights abuses instantly. Equipped with satellite phones, they can alert the international community about violations within seconds, often leading to immediate pressure on the offending country.

Success and Challenges of the Program

PBI’s protective accompaniment program has been highly successful. No activists receiving PBI accompaniment have been killed in over two decades, and only two deadly attacks occurred in communities where PBI was present. Activists report feeling safer and more empowered, while volunteers often find the experience transformative, continuing their activism after returning home.

However, protective accompaniment is complex and requires extensive preparation. Volunteers undergo rigorous training, demonstrating nonviolent principles, political analysis skills, and an understanding of the destination country. Additionally, PBI carefully selects countries based on the threat to activists and the regime’s sensitivity to international pressure.

When implemented correctly, protective accompaniment is a powerful tool to prevent human rights abuses. Volunteers must remain aware of their limitations and earn the trust of local activists to make a meaningful impact.

For more information on this tactic, read our in-depth case study.

What we can learn from this Tactic:

This tactic leverages the universal reality that no one wants to commit crimes under scrutiny. National leaders avoid bad press, and perpetrators prefer anonymity. By placing international witnesses directly in front of those responsible for violence, attacks are deterred. At the same time, threatened activists gain strength from the show of international solidarity. Accompaniment has been used in other dangerous contexts, with groups like Nonviolent Peaceforce in Sri Lanka and Christian Peacemaker Teams in the West Bank. The symbolic presence of church workers or journalists often has a protective effect in tense situations, as perpetrators don’t want to be seen misbehaving. Similarly, in Haiti, community health workers from Partners in Health provide medical and emotional support to HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis patients, demonstrating that others need not fear casual contact with those suffering from the illness. The presence of a committed third party carries moral and social weight, influencing behavior.
New Tactics in Human Rights does not advocate for or endorse specific tactics, policies or issues.

Related Tactics