The purpose of this manual is to provide human rights defenders with additional knowledge and some tools that may be useful for improving their understanding of security and protection. It is hoped that the manual will support training on security and protection and will help defenders to undertake their own risk assessments and define security rules and procedures which suit their particular situation.

This manual is the result of over 25 years combined experience of Protection International-PI- members in working with human rights and humanitarian law and in the protection of HRD and other vulnerable groups. PI members experience originates from their former involvement and participation in Peace Brigades International – PBI-field missions and structure.

We have had the opportunity to learn from and share experiences and knowledge with hundreds of defenders in the field, as well as in workshops, meetings and discussions about security. Most of the manual’s contents have already been applied in practice, either in protection work or in training workshops with defenders. This manual is the fruit of all these exchanges, and we owe the defenders involved a huge thanks for their input.

Security and protection are complex areas. They are based around structured knowledge, but also influenced by individual attitudes and organisational behaviour. One of the key messages in this manual is to give the issue of security the time, space and energy it deserves, despite overloaded work agendas and the severe stress and fear all defenders and their organisations are under. This means going beyond people’s individual knowledge about security and moving towards an organisational culture in which security is inherent.

Knowing enough about a conflict scenario and understanding the local political logic are also key to proper management of defenders’ security. This manual contains an overall framework as well as a step- by- step approach to draw a security plan (product) and to to manage security (process). It includes some thoughts on basic concepts like risk, vulnerability and threat, and a few suggestions for how to improve and develop security for defenders in their day- to- day work. We hope that the topics covered will allow NGOs and defenders to plan for and tackle the increasing security challenges involved in human rights work.

This said, the first thing we wish to call to mind is that defenders risk their wellbeing and their lives, and this is serious matter. Sometimes the only way to save a life is by going into hiding and then fleeing. We want to make it very clear that all the techniques and suggestions in this manual are not, by any means, the only way to think about security issues for defenders. The manual has been written in good faith but sadly offers no guarantee of success.

Let’s improve this Manual…

Risk changes. The manual is a work in progress, and will need to be developed, improved and refined over time. Your feedback as a defender on any aspect of this manual will be invaluable.

Please send any comments and opinions - particularly in terms of your experiences of using the manual in your work. With your help, we can make this manual an increasingly useful tool for defenders all over the world.

Email to any of us:

pi protectioninternational.org

Or by post to PI

Protection International. Rue de la Linière, 11 - 1060 Bruxelles (Belgium)
Tel : + 32 (0)2 609 44 05, +32 (0)2 609 44 07
Fax: +32 (0)2 609 44 06

www.protectioninternational.org

www.protectionline.org