CMLP 2.9_English: Intimidation, Extortion and Coercion Incidents

Occurrences of death threats and intimidation – frequently associated with extortion or coercion – are prevalent within some regional contexts but can occur anywhere. Intimidation is sometimes used by those with a grudge and may come in the form of threats of violence against specific individuals, or an organization in general. In some instances, intimidation is used by criminal groups who are being detrimentally affected by an organization’s activity, and coercion is used by hostile governments, or, in extreme cases, by terrorist groups to put pressure on individuals and families to carry out or, more likely, facilitate terrorist acts in some way – such as providing access to a secure area under duress. While death threats rarely materialize into a real physical risk, they do always represent a serious morale and welfare issue and can significantly disrupt operations. Some individuals are subject to higher levels of threat from hostile individuals, whether this is associated with personal, cultural, political, ethnic, or religious factors, the protection of criminal interests, or whether resulting from – for similar reasons – perceived harm or injustice. The threat may also arise where the activities of an organization affect the goals, reputation or standing of others. And, in the case of those who wield institutional power such as politicians, public officials or those within the police and judiciary, in places where the rule of law is weak and public accountability diminished by prevalent corruption, these individuals may intimidate others to protect their power.