Security workshop (English)

Friday 12th September: Practical Security Measures

NGO’s are fully aware of their lack of vigilance in the areas of risk and protection measures and are very much in need of tools and training.

In this respect PBI’s manual project has been strongly welcomed, however its presentation was too general to allow for precise evaluation.

It would be necessary to be able to use and practise this manual. Nevertheless it was suggested that the manual should also contain concrete examples.

1. Lack of awareness and training

A lot of witnesses’ evidence has demonstrated a lack of awareness of the seriousness of potential risks: very often, precautionary measures are taken after the attack or the murder of a collaborator (e.g. in Venezuela changes of schedules and journeys occurred after the murder of a member of the NGO). Yet these measures are often disparate, limited or insufficient, most notably because of a lack of information and instruction.

The experiences described have shown the wide variety of bullying and surveillance measures used (false journalists etc.) and how the death of a defender is very often due to the relaxing of attention or to the negligence of basic measures of prudence.

2. Problems of capacity and resources

One of the principal reasons cited to explain this situation is the lack of capacity and resources: it is a question the NGOs do not really know how to tackle; because it requires time and means, and certainly it implies a certain awareness and a preoccupation that ‘has no place’ in their already overlooked agenda. The training and practical tools needs are therefore enormous.

In order to cope with these situations it is also necessary to develop solidarity among the NGOs and to obtain citizens’ support, which are important ways of fighting together against campaigns to discredit them.

Similarly the limits and difficulties in accessing international protection via embassies have been underlined: the time taken by embassies to verify defenders identities can be fatal.

3. Different levels of protection

During the discussion two paths of approach to the security question became apparent:

- a ‘technical’ level to know how to thwart the use of advanced technologies in the surveillance of defenders.

- the ‘everyday’ level, often the most dangerous, represents the interventions’ essence.

In effect, although the technical developments are formidable and require appropriate measures (white room, etc) PBI has nevertheless pointed out that 80% of the surveillance and control measures still used are traditional ones. Also it is easier to adopt technical protection measures than to dedicate 30 minutes each week to the organisation of security in the team and to practise daily vigilance wherein the human factor plays a fundamental role. It has been emphasized that an ‘obsession’ or ‘technical paranoia’ that lead to daily precautions being forgotten, must be avoided.

- the CIDH’s ‘precautionary measures’

The importance of the measures contributed by the International Commission was remembered as well as the existence of a Unity of Defenders at the heart of the Commission that is comprised of three members and has acquired a large amount of experience about the subject.

4. Security of victims’ entourage

During the debate the need to assure the protection of the defenders’ entourage in the wider sense also arose.

- The victims, witnesses, or victims’ families

The work of the NGOs is essentially focused on the testimony of victims and/or assistance to victims. The latter, the witnesses and their families also require protection.

Here too, the principal problem facing the NGOs is posed in terms of geographical and financial resources

- the family and entourage close to the defender

It is also fundamental to assure the security of the family and the entourage close to the defender. In effect it is the authorities themselves that ensure the combining of private sphere and public activity as a means of pressure on and control of defenders. The requirements in terms of training and protection measures in daily life of all the family are enormous.