Peace Brigades International (PBI) is an international non-governmental organisation, founded in 1981, that protects human rights and promotes the non-violent transformation of conflicts. PBI does this primarily by sending trained international volunteers to areas of repression and conflict to provide protective, non-violent accompaniment to people and organisations under threat for their human rights work.

PBI provides protection, support, and international recognition to individuals, communities, movements, and organisations that defend human rights. This includes:

• Physical protective accompaniment and international presence
• International observation and reporting
• Political advocacy with governments and multilateral bodies
• Awareness-raising and communications work
• Capacity sharing on security, protection and advocacy strategies

The goal is to “make space for peace” so that local people can continue their work for justice and social change.

PBI Canada is one of PBI’s country groups. We support the global field projects through recruitment of volunteers, political advocacy, research, communications, fundraising, and public education in Canada.

We help sustain international accompaniment teams, raise the profile of the defenders and communities accompanied by PBI, engage Canadian parliamentarians, institutions, and civil society, and partner with organisations across Canada to strengthen protection for human rights defenders.

Internationally, PBI maintains field projects in countries where human rights defenders face serious threats and where local organisations have requested PBI’s presence. Over the years, projects have operated, for example, in Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Mexico, Indonesia, Nepal and Nicaragua, with specific countries and projects changing over time.

PBI Canada focuses its solidarity, advocacy and education work on these field projects and on struggles for land, environmental and Indigenous rights.

PBI accompanies human rights defenders and communities at risk because of non-violent work for human rights, land, environment, labour, Indigenous and social justice struggles. They include:

• Community leaders and grassroots organisers
• Indigenous authorities and land defenders
• Women human rights defenders
• Lawyers, journalists and social communicators
• Youth and student organisers
• Organisations resisting militarisation, forced displacement, extractive projects and state or paramilitary violence

A human rights defender (HRD) is anyone who, individually or with others, acts to promote, protect or advance human rights—whether civil, political, economic, social, cultural, environmental, land or Indigenous rights. This definition comes from the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and is widely used by PBI and many other organisations.

Defenders often face:

• Threats and intimidation
• Smear campaigns and stigmatisation
• Surveillance (digital and physical)
• Arbitrary detention and criminalisation
• Physical attacks, disappearances and assassinations
• Forced displacement and exile

PBI’s work responds to these risks by making threats more visible, building political pressure on authorities, and strengthening defenders’ own protection strategies.

Protective accompaniment is a strategy pioneered and refined by PBI. Trained international volunteers maintain a visible, consistent presence alongside threatened defenders—on their journeys, in their offices, at community events, court hearings and meetings.

This presence is backed up by an international support network that can quickly contact embassies, governments and institutions if defenders are threatened.

The basic logic is deterrence through visibility and political cost:

• Potential perpetrators know that any attack on accompanied defenders will be quickly reported to the outside world.
• Diplomatic, political and media networks are primed to respond, which can increase the cost of abusive behaviour for state or non-state actors.
• PBI’s non-partisan, long-term presence builds credibility with authorities and communities, strengthening its protective impact.

Over four decades, research and practice in unarmed civilian protection have shown that international accompaniment can significantly reduce attacks and enable defenders to continue their work.

PBI is non-partisan but not neutral about human rights.

Non-partisan means that PBI does not align with any political party, armed actor, or partisan project, and does not try to direct the political strategies of the people it accompanies. The mandate is to protect space for local actors to pursue non-violent solutions, not to speak or decide for them.

In practice, non-partisanship means, among other things:

• PBI does not fund or run local campaigns or projects
• PBI volunteers do not participate in demonstrations or partisan activities
• Accompaniment is based on safety needs and non-violent principles, not on agreement with every political position of those accompanied

No. PBI is not a development or humanitarian organisation. It focuses on protection, accompaniment, political observation and advocacy, rather than running social, economic or service projects. Requests for development projects are generally referred to organisations designed for that work.

Protective accompaniment is one tool in a broader set that includes:

• Political advocacy with local, national and international authorities
• Awareness raising and communications work (publications, speaking tours, media)
• Capacity sharing on security, protection and advocacy with defenders
• Building broad support networks with embassies, parliaments, NGOs, churches, unions and others

PBI’s work is grounded in principles including:

• Non-violence
• Non-partisanship
• International solidarity and presence
• Non-hierarchical, consensus-based decision-making
• Respect for local leadership and self-determination

PBI has three main levels:

• Field projects in countries where accompaniment is requested
• Country groups (such as PBI Canada) that support projects through fundraising, advocacy, outreach and recruitment
• International structures, including an International Council and periodic global assemblies that set overall direction and policy

Yes. Peace Brigades International – Canada is a registered Canadian charity. Its charitable registration number is 133444117RR0001.

PBI’s work is supported by a mix of:

• Individual donations and monthly donors
• Grants from foundations and charitable funds
• Some government or institutional funding for specific projects
• Contributions from faith communities and civil society partners

PBI Canada raises funds specifically to support international accompaniment, advocacy, volunteer recruitment and public education, and works to maintain independence and non-partisanship in all funding relationships.

No. PBI itself is not a grant-making body. Funds raised are used to support PBI’s own protection work and infrastructure, not to provide direct grants to other organisations. PBI can, however, share information, build relationships and advocate for defenders, including in international forums.

PBI only considers opening a new presence when invited by local human rights defenders at risk. The primary criteria include:

• Clear, ongoing threats against defenders
• A strong local commitment to non-violent strategies
• A realistic possibility that international presence and advocacy can reduce risk

Defenders or organisations at risk typically:

1. Learn about PBI’s mandate and methods.
2. Assess whether PBI’s approach fits their needs and non-violent strategy.
3. Contact PBI (either the international office, the relevant field project, or a country group like PBI Canada) with information about their work, risk situation, and what kind of support they are seeking.

Any decision to accompany is made in dialogue with local partners and field projects, based on criteria, capacity, and security analysis.

PBI normally does not support new teams or country groups started by people who have not been involved with PBI before. The usual path is first to volunteer with an existing PBI project or be active in an established country group, then explore expansion possibilities with the international structures.

Prospective volunteers usually:

• Learn about PBI’s mandate and principles
• Contact their nearest country group (such as PBI Canada)
• Participate in orientation or introductory trainings
• Apply to a specific field project
• Complete a multi-day project training and distance-learning preparation before deployment

PBI Canada periodically promotes recruitment calls and supports applicants based in Canada.

Field volunteers:

• Accompany defenders during daily activities, meetings, court hearings, community visits and more
• Maintain regular presence in offices or communities at risk
• Meet with local and national authorities, embassies and institutions to raise concerns
• Gather and share non-partisan analysis of the human rights and political situation
• Help coordinate emergency responses when defenders are threatened

PBI looks for people with:

• A clear commitment to non-violence and human rights
• Strong language skills (for example, fluent Spanish for many Latin American projects or English plus local language learning in others)
• The ability to live and work in stressful, rapidly changing contexts
• Experience in peace, human rights or social justice work
• Good political analysis, observation and communication skills
• Intercultural sensitivity and prior cross-cultural experience
• Experience with collective decision-making and teamwork, ideally consensus processes
• Personal resilience, discretion and diplomacy

Volunteer commitments vary by project, but a minimum of around one year in the field is typical (and up to 18 months in some projects). This may be preceded by dedicated language study and training.

Field volunteers are not salaried employees. PBI usually covers basic living costs and project-related expenses, and may offer a modest stipend, but the role is understood as volunteer service. Country groups like PBI Canada may help support fundraising or logistics for volunteers based in their country.

Volunteer safety is central to PBI’s approach. PBI:

• Conducts in-depth political and security analysis before and during accompaniment
• Informs authorities and embassies about the presence of volunteers in specific areas
• Maintains strong visibility and clear identification as an international presence
• Uses communication tools for constant contact
• Backs field teams through an international support network that can respond rapidly to threats

Serious incidents involving PBI volunteers have been rare relative to the length and scale of the organisation’s work.

Yes. PBI Canada may involve volunteers in:

• Research, writing and translation
• Communications, social media and website support
• Organising events, speaking tours and webinars
• Fundraising and donor engagement
• Administrative and governance support

Opportunities depend on current needs and capacity; people can contact PBI Canada to learn about current roles.

PBI is largely volunteer-based, but some staff positions exist in field projects, country groups and the international office. These are limited and usually advertised publicly when they arise. PBI Canada also sometimes has short-term or part-time staff roles supported by project funding.

There are many ways to support from Canada:

• Make a one-time or monthly donation
• Include PBI Canada in your legacy or estate planning
• Attend or host public events, speaking tours or webinars
• Share PBI updates and defenders’ stories with your networks
• Invite PBI Canada speakers to unions, faith communities, classrooms, or community groups
• Volunteer skills in communications, translation, research or event support

PBI Canada values partnerships with:

• Human rights and social justice organisations
• Unions, professional associations and faith communities
• Universities and research centres
• Foundations and community funds

Partnerships may involve co-hosting events, joint advocacy, funding collaborations or solidarity campaigns, always in line with PBI’s non-partisan, non-violent mandate.

PBI Canada focuses its limited resources on supporting international accompaniment and related advocacy and education. It is not a granting agency for Canadian organisations. However, PBI Canada can sometimes collaborate on events, campaigns or research that align with its mandate.

Over more than 40 years, PBI and other unarmed civilian protection organisations have documented many cases in which accompaniment reduced threats, enabled defenders to remain in their communities, and contributed to longer-term openings for justice and peace.

While risks never disappear entirely, PBI’s continued invitations from defenders and recognition by human rights and peace organisations suggest that accompaniment is a meaningful tool in many contexts.

Accountability is rooted in:

• Only working where invited and remaining only as long as accompaniment is requested
• Regular, structured dialogue with accompanied organisations and communities
• Adapting strategies based on local analysis and feedback
• Ensuring defenders’ safety and agency are the central reference points of any accompaniment plan

PBI recognises the power dynamics involved when international volunteers accompany communities in the Global South or marginalised communities in the Global North. The organisation seeks to:

• Centre local leadership, strategies and decision-making
• Avoid substituting for local voices or imposing external agendas
• Use international presence and networks to reduce harm, not to speak for communities
• Support broader movements for structural change through solidarity and visibility, not control