Dealing with Threats, Risks & Safety

Transcription

1 Dealing with Threats, Risks & Safety SESSION TWO: IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF SECURITY INCIDENTS Overview: This is a prcess t identify and analyze incidents where wmen s security has been threatened. It enables a grup t gather imprtant infrmatin t help assess ptential risks t them, their wrk and rganizatins. Purpse: This sessin builds n the wrk f the cntextual analysis, mving frm an analysis f verall cntext t specifics. Identifying and analyzing incidents where wmen s security has been threatened prvides imprtant infrmatin fr helping assess ptential risks t them, their wrk and rganizatins. This infrmatin als cntributes t building a data base and prducing new knwledge abut the scpe f threats facing wmen -- details that can be used in educatin and advcacy effrts. Such incidents are defined as any act r event in which smene is targeted because f their gender and activism, and which results in physical, material, psychlgical r mral harm t wmen and girls, their families, rganizatins and mvements. These incidents may ccur in different realms f life -- in the hme, wrkplace, civil sciety rganizatins/ mvements, gvernment and military entities r thrugh ther frces such as paramilitary grups, crprate interests, r religius fundamentalists. Credit: Adapted by Marusia López Cruz and Valerie Miller, drawing n the Prtectin Internatinal manual "New Manual fr Defenders f Human Rights and ur wrk with wmen activists in JASS Mesamerica (including with IM-defenders) and JASS Suthern Africa Time: 3 hurs (this can als be spread ut ver multiple sessins r make an nging activity see nte belw) Materials and space needed: 8 x 11 clred cards Markers Masking tape Three flip charts A created timeline (last mnths) n a wall n which t pst security incidents.

2 Prcess: Facilitatin nte: There are multiple ways t apprach this activity. Ding it all at nce can be verwhelming and even disempwering s yu will prbably want t break it up. In a 4-5-day wrkshp, yu might set aside different times in the first tw days t fill ut separate cards s the analysis is brken up. That way it desn t seem s verpwering and peple can use the final days t prcess and apply the infrmatin and analysis t the ther steps in the verall risk analysis prcess. In an rganizatinal setting where yu have mre time, yu can d the initial review f security incidents t get a sense f past patterns and then take time every week r s t dcument and discuss any current incidents and plan accrdingly. Activists and rganizatins incrprate this prcess int their everyday thinking s they can be better prepared t respnd t changing dynamics and threats. The prcess described here is best fr a wrkshp and will need t be adapted t ther settings. Opening: Explain purpse and prcess f sessin. Intrduce and define the idea f security incidents, including the realms in which they may ccur Ask grup t quickly brainstrm sme examples f threats they have encuntered. See examples belw. Facilitatin Nte: the fllwing prvides sme examples frm ther wmen s experiences. Depending n the grup respnses, yu may want t add sme f these t deepen their analysis and discussin. Examples f Security Incidents based n gender discriminatin: Threats frm relatives r spuses t withdraw their affectin r t limit access t children if wmen cntinue their human rights and justice wrk. Sexual harassment by plice and security frces tuching and hitting intimate parts f wmen s bdies during and after prtest marches; cases f rape while in custdy Gssip and rumrs accusing wmen f inapprpriate sexual behavir being lesbians, whres, prmiscuus this can happen within a cmmunity, in the media r nline. Slander campaigns calling activists bad mthers, child killers, terrrists, etc. Death threats and intimidatin by thugs assciated with gvernment r ecnmic interests, bth natinal and internatinal Organizatins hstile t female leadership 2

3 Sexual harassment and bullying within civil sciety rganizatins -- nt hlding the perpetratrs accuntable Officials f the justice system preventing wmen activists and human rights defenders frm carrying ut their wrk, saying wmen are nt fit r cmpetent fr such respnsibilities. Individually: Have peple name 2-3 significant security threats r actual acts f vilence carried ut against them (and/r clleagues in their rganizatin) ver the last 6 12 mnths as a result f their wrk and activism n behalf f equality and justice. Remind them these may be prducts f gender vilence and discriminatin in their hme, wrkplace, gvernment entities, their wn rganizatins and mvements, r due t ther peple and interests ppsed t their wrk etc. Fr each incident, have everyne recrd the fllwing infrmatin n large clred cards f paper, ne card per incident. What was the cncrete threat r actin against yu? Describe in ne r tw wrds, write in caps at tp f card. Where and when did it ccur? Wh was invlved? Wh d yu believe was behind the threat? Can yu verify/prve what ccurred? What were its effects n yu, yur family, cmmunity and rganizatin what harm/damage did it prduce? Hw did yu/family/yur rganizatin respnd? Wh supprted yu? Hw? Hw wuld yu categrize the seriusness f the incident: high, medium, lw: High: prduced permanent harm that is impssible t vercme Medium: prduced harm that can be vercme in a lng timeframe Lw: prduced harm that can be vercme in a shrt timeframe In plenary: Once cmpleted, have everyne place their cards n a timeline. Have the grup lk at the timeline tgether and ntice any patterns types f threats, timing f threats, intensity f incidents, etc. Facilitatin nte: There may be a cncentratin f cards arund certain mments n the timeline. This shuld be prbed with the grup t find ut what cntextual factrs were affecting these dynamics. Depending n yur gals, time and cntext, yu may just want t get an verview f these incidents fr example, in the case f a wrkshp setting, yu culd ask peple t chse ne incident t explain and d the verall analysis based n a sampling f incidents. If yu are 3

4 ding this within an rganizatin, yu may want t structure this exercise in a way that allws yu t g int greater depth. Similarly, if yu are wrking with a particular wman in a high risk cntext, yu will need t accmpany her in this analysis t track the gamut f threats and devise strategies in respnse. Ask individuals t describe the actin r threat briefly, including the actrs invlved and then hw they categrize it (high, medium, lw) and why? As facilitatr, recrd the basic infrmatin n the fllwing chart. Facilitatin nte: It s prbably best t have three flip charts s that yu can dedicate a sheet f paper t each level. Yu culd als use this chart t begin an in depth discussin n strategies by adding a third clumn t describe hw peple addressed the threats and what they think wrked r didn t wrk. Level f seriusness Security Incident: What was it? Wh was invlved High Medium Lw After filling ut the chart, ask a range questins t prbe further. Depending n yur purpses, these culd include: What insights d yu draw frm this chart Hw d yu assess the impact f these incidents f discriminatin and threat n yur lives? What cmmn threats and experiences f discriminatin and vilence d yu face? And wh are the main actrs and institutins at the cre f these cmmn threats? What strategies have yu used t cnfrnt the threats? Which nes have seemed t have wrk, which nt? What des that suggestin ging frward? Hw d yu feel after finishing this exercise? Wrap up: Summarize and highlight majr pints yu want t emphasize, clear up any misunderstandings, prvide any new infrmatin that will deepen peple s analysis, and pay special attentin t the grup s emtinal state. Facilitatr Nte: Talking abut the vilence and threats peple have experienced can be very painful, difficult and traumatic. At the same time, recgnizing hw peple have respnded t such vilence and wrked t challenge thse respnsible can be inspiring and empwering. Whatever the case, this sessin can generate strng emtins. It s imprtant t give peple the space t feel 4

5 sad as well as t share and gain a sense f their wn pwer and ptential. Tears are cmmn. Attending t self-care and emtinal supprt during these sessins is extremely imprtant frm shared fd, t calming breathwrk, t sng, t mvement (see self-care activities in ur Integral Prtectin/HMB pack). It is advisable, hwever, t be prepared in case smene has a serius reactin r breakdwn. It is imprtant t have anther facilitatr r resurce persn present with expertise in this type f crisis situatin during the sessin. It is imperative that yu d nt cntinue with the threat and risk analysis until yu can attend t the emtinal needs f the grup. Yu may have t cnsider prviding prfessinal psychlgical supprt t individuals with deeper scars. 5