{"id":35652,"date":"2026-09-17T14:05:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T12:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/helsinkiespana.org\/?p=35652"},"modified":"2026-09-17T15:21:54","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T13:21:54","slug":"security-cannot-be-improvised-it-must-be-trained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/helsinkiespana.org\/en\/security-cannot-be-improvised-it-must-be-trained\/","title":{"rendered":"Security cannot be improvised. It must be trained."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
New HEAT training dates. Mexico. Colombia. Spain.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would you know when you need to leave a building? How would you react if an apparently normal situation suddenly began to develop into a threat? Would you know how to recognize signs that could precede a kidnapping? And what would happen if, despite all preventive measures, you were captured?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are uncomfortable questions<\/strong>. Precisely for that reason, we need to ask ourselves them before we are forced to answer them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many organizations have security protocols, emergency plans and established procedures. However, in a real situation, especially when there is fear, confusion or time pressure, having a document does not guarantee that a person will know what to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kidnapping<\/strong> may not be the most frequent risk a person can face, but its consequences can be extraordinarily serious. Avoiding the subject for fear of causing alarm does not contribute to building a genuine security culture<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2025, Mexico recorded 550 victims of extortion kidnapping in the common jurisdiction<\/strong>, according to the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System (SESNSP)<\/strong>. In Colombia, the National Police<\/strong> recorded 651 kidnapping cases<\/strong>, 477 of which were classified as extortion kidnappings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are risks that cannot be ignored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Colombia, for example, the National Police, through GAULA<\/strong>, carries out specific actions to address kidnapping and extortion. But one aspect is particularly significant: an important part of its work is preventive<\/strong>, through awareness campaigns, self-protection measures and early identification of risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prevention is not only about reacting when a crime occurs. It is also about preparing people before it happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Prevent before you react<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Las organizaciones que trabajan en contextos internacionales, zonas remotas o entornos potencialmente hostiles suelen disponer dOrganizations working in international contexts, remote areas or potentially hostile environments often have security policies and procedures in place. But between a written procedure and an effective response there is one essential element: the person who has to make the decision.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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An evacuation may require leaving a building quickly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
A threat may require changing travel or movement plans.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
An armed violence situation may require recognizing the danger and finding a safe way out.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
A kidnapping attempt can unfold within seconds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
In all these situations, there is something in common: there is no time to open a manual and start learning.<\/strong> The training must have happened beforehand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Good preparation does not mean living in constant fear of threats. It means developing habits, knowledge and judgment that enable people to recognize risky situations and make better decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A prepared person may be better equipped to identify warning signs and unusual behaviour, reduce exposure to risk, adopt self-protection measures, respond to a security threat, evacuate a building or area, act in an active shooter situation, make decisions under stress, respond to a kidnapping attempt, cope emotionally with captivity, and contribute to the safety of colleagues and the organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The aim is not to turn every employee, volunteer or staff member into a security specialist. It is about providing them with the tools to recognize, decide and act<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Security must also be trained<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Protecting people requires organizations to take active responsibility. For a company, NGO, public institution, university, international organization or any entity sending people into risk environments, protecting teams should not be limited to creating a protocol or providing an emergency telephone number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a crisis situation, stress can affect perception, communication and decision-making. Uncertainty can lead to hesitation or paralysis. And a person who has never trained for a particular response may struggle to act when it matters most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That is why training for hostile environments must go beyond theory. It should allow participants to practice, experience scenarios, make decisions and learn to manage pressure<\/strong> in a controlled environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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