Human Rights Action Center Volunteer

HRAC In Action: Families For Families
Families for Families is a legal, non-violent project to protect people in their homes from abuse at the hands of unruly security forces. Originating in Northern Ireland, it serves a number of purposes:

   Gives the vulnerable family a source of protection, and support, both practical and psychological.
   Provides the vulnerable family with the necessary audio and video equipment to record abuses.
   If security forces are caught on audio or video equipment engaging in illegal activity, tapes will assist family in prosecution of guilty parties. Recorded abuses will also assist the project's ten participants (listed below) in publicizing the abuses.
   Deters security forces from intimidating families, and young males in particular.

As an example of a useful device — a strategy to help — here is the content of a sign that vulnerable families can place on their doors as a warning to security forces:

THIS HOME IS PROTECTED BY FAMILIES FOR FAMILIES

A PROGRAM SPONSORED BY THE
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTION CENTER

THE FAMILY THAT RESIDES HERE IS LINKED TO TEN FAMILIES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WHO ARE PREPARED AND COMMITTED AT ANY MOMENT TO USE THEIR INFLUENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, IN THE MEDIA, UPON THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, AND IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO EXPOSE AND STOP ANY HARASSMENT OF THIS FAMILY. ALL DISTURBANCES WILL BE IMMEDIATELY REPORTED AND BROADCAST AND WILL BE VIDEOTAPED.