	International Online Training Program On Intractable Conflict
	Conflict Research Consortium, University of Colorado, USA

Protective Accompaniment/Observers

Opening Page | Glossary | Menu Shortcut Page

One form of external intervention are international observers who can observe elections and/or provide protective accompaniment for people who are likely victims of human rights abuses. Often human rights violations can be limited, just by focusing international attention on the problem. If likely targets are accompanied by people from other countries who will witness and report on any threats or attacks that occur, the attacker is likely to refrain from such actions. While they may simply turn to another target, if enough observers are present in the community and/or nation, it becomes difficult to hide from outside scrutiny and condemnation if human rights abuses continue to occur. More information about how this works is given in the examples below.

Links to Information about Protective Accompaniment and Election Observers

Patrick Coy -- Going Where We Otherwise Would Not Have Gone: Accompaniment and Election Monitoring in Sri Lanka: Coy is a member of Peace Brigades International which has provided accompaniment and election monitoring around the world. This is a summary about his experiences.
Aspen Institute--Conflict Prevention: Strategies to Sustain Peace in the Post-Cold War World: This article discusses the use of foreign observers to facilitate the transition to majority rule in South Africa.

Links to Information about UN Election Assistance: This is an outside link.

Links to Related Sections:

External intervention

Empowerment

Peacekeeping

Human Rights Abuses

International Online Training Program On Intractable Conflict

Protective Accompaniment/Observers