Security of civil society activists and response mechanisms PWYP Africa regional approach and lessons learned Marie-Ange Kalenga, PWYP Africa Coordinator

1. Security of Activists:
Approach and lessons learned from
Africa
****
Sécurité des Militants: Approche et
meilleures pratiques en Afrique
Afrique Africa

2. Overview
1. Context
2. Response mechanisms
3. Lessons Learned
4. PWYP Africa regional strategy

3. Context
CS campaigners across Africa are exposed to risks and threats
because of their work (Congo B., DRC, Niger, Gabon, EG, Angola,
Guinea, Nigeria)
PWYP members have faced increased harassement and intimidation,
including: detention, defamation, travel bans, economic and legal
sanctions, etc.
Hostile environments: closed political space, repressive NGO laws
Unlike other networks, absence of institutionnalised protection strategy

4. Response mechanisms
Reactive mechanisms Preventive mechanisms
Analysing trends and indicators
Protection monitoring
• ad hoc response group Protection focal point and coping
• political advocacy and strategies at national level
diplomacy
• action alerts
• media alerts
• fact finding missions/fiedl
visits
• legal assistance
• small funds for
economic/legal assistance

5. Lessons learned
RESPONDING TO SECURITY INCIDENTS ANTICIPATING SECURITY INCIDENTS
Need for consistent and coherent Effective and secure means of communication
message across
Safe transportation and security for a house or
Centralise the information that is being
sent, including lobby letters, updates office
and briefings The more capacities, the lesser the risk)
Assess capacity and time Maintaining a list of nternational networks
Identify key pressure points (including UN and regional agencies) that need to
Support through experienced networks be provided with advocacy alerts when attacks
or a system seem possible or imminent.
for joint responses when members are Have emergency contacts (someone who won't
attacked
be arrested/attacked)?
Partner with lawyers' networks
Availability of small grant funds for
legal and economic assistance

6. Towards regional protection
strategy
Limbé 2007: Ad hoc protection committee develops roadmap
for regional strategy
Abuja 2008: National coalitions review draft strategy and call for
its effective implemention

7. Key elements of the strategy
• Establishing criteria and procedures for verifying threats
• Establishing permanent protection structures internationally
and nationally in high risk countries
• Identifying legal expertise nationally and internationally and
enter framework agreements with lawyers
• Establish a permanent protection fund internationally and
nationally in high risk countries
• Establish a risk barometer to discern which are the high risk
countries

8. Challenges and way forward
Operationalising protection fund
Setting up functional protection committee
Capacity-building for safe advocacy and self-protection
Global PWYP strategy

9. THANK YOU!
MERCI!
Marie-Ange Kalenga:
mkalenga@mac.com,
Mkalenga@cm.caro.crs.org
www.publishwhatyoupay.org
9