International Observer

We are a human rights organisation not affiliated to any religious or political institutions. We are currently recruiting new volunteers for our field teams in Colombia (see other information below). Our volunteers come from many different countries and backgrounds. What these volunteers share is a strong commitment to nonviolence and a belief in the contribution that ordinary people can make in creating a more peaceful and just world. When there is a conflict within a state or between communities or nations; certain actions are possible and appropriate for outsiders – others are not. A volunteer team seeks to encourage; by means of an international; nonviolent; non partisan presence; a peaceful resolution of conflicts in the local area. To do this; our teams:

• Offer support and protective accompaniment to human rights defenders; groups or individuals threatened with violence
• Develop a thorough analysis of the political situation by listening to the widest possible range of viewpoints and experiences while respecting needs for confidentiality
• Report to the outside world a non-partisan analysis of the situation as seen on the ground in the area
• Encourage actions to reduce the level of violence
• Meet regularly with local and national civil and military authorities and embassies to raise concerns regarding human rights abuses as they affect the organisations we accompany.

We are not a development organisation. We believe that communities need space to carry out their own development in ways that create self reliance rather than dependency. We refer requests for development projects to other organisations set up for such work.

We offer volunteers:

• A profound experience of working with an international peace and human rights organisation committed to transforming ideals into practical action
• Specialist training based on over 25 years experience working in the field
• The experience of living and working in a close-knit team of volunteers from many different countries and backgrounds
• A unique first-hand insight into the intense pressures faced by human rights defenders and their resilience and courage.

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