What steps does PBI take to minimise the risks that field volunteers face?
Given the nature of PBI’s work there are clearly some personal risks involved in working on a PBI team. Team members frequently accompany people targeted with all kinds of physical harm. Before applying, each potential volunteer needs to consider whether for them, it is worth taking these risks. In more than 25 years of accompaniment, there have been two serious incidents both of which occurred 18 years ago. In August of 1989, a hand grenade was thrown into the PBI house in Guatemala (nobody was hurt), and three months later, three volunteers were stabbed on their way home from the bus stop, though fortunately suffered no permanent harm. However, these kinds of incidents have been very rare. Ensuring the safety of our own volunteers is essential to maximising the protection we can offer to the organisations and communities we accompany. When undertaking any accompaniment particularly those that are potentially risky, PBI teams undertake a thorough analysis of the local political situat
