The Milestones

1981: The Founding

Inspired by Gandhi’s Shanti Sena (Peace Army), PBI is formed as a non-partisan organisation committed to unarmed, international accompaniment.

1983: First Mission – Guatemala

At the height of the civil war, PBI sends the first international team to accompany families of the "disappeared." The presence of international observers immediately changes the security landscape for local activists.

1994: The Nobel Connection

PBI provides protective accompaniment to Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchú Tum, cementing our role as the "gold standard" for international protective presence.

2000s: Expanding the Toolkit

PBI UK is formally established as a charity. We move beyond just "physical presence" to include High-Level Advocacy and Digital Security, responding to the changing nature of threats against defenders.

2021: 40 Years of Solidarity

Four decades later, the PBI model remains unchanged in principle but modernised in practice. We have supported over 1,000 organisations across 15 countries since our inception.

Why our history is our strength

We don’t just have a history; we have a proven methodology. For over 40 years, no defender has disappeared or been killed while under PBI’s physical accompaniment. This track record is why governments listen when we speak and why funders trust us with their support.