Defining Protection Protection of what, from what, by whom?

Inter-Agency DefinitionsHow do we do it?

Priorities?

ProCapProtection Stand-By Training

 

Definition of Protection

All activities aimed at obtaining full respect for the rights of the individual in accordance with the letter and spirit of the relevant bodies of law, namely human rights law, international humanitarian law and refugee law

Actors shall conduct these activities impartially and not on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, language, gender, etc.

--Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC)

Protection puts the human in the centre

Integrity

Safety and Security

Dignity

Recognize whole person with physical, psychosocial, social, and cultural considerations

Empowerment

Choices and freedom Self-worth and autonomy

Keeping people safe Priority for action, advocacy, assistance

Protection emphasizes a systematic and integrated approach Aiming for structures that make humane

conditions not fortuitous, but a right. Looking not just at immediate response, but at

causes Acting to strengthen states capacity and

willingness to respond Awareness of unintended consequences and

Do-no-harm principles Focus on collaboration with others,

complementarity

Who protects, legally?

StatesPrimary responsibility to protectWhere cannot or will not, must allow

humanitarian action

Mandated and Specialized AgenciesUNHCR, UNICEF, OHCHR, ICRC, OCHA

Non-state actors

Who else protects?

People protect themselvesFamily and friendsCommunity, tribe, religious groups

Non-mandated actors Bi-lateral state action Mass movements Other UN, NGOs (national and international)

What are protection activities?

Violation Abuse

Responsive Remedial Environment-Building

What are protection activities?

Responsive

Remedial

Environment-Building

Stop, prevent, alleviate the worst effects of violations and patterns of abuse

Immediate and urgent, targeting specific groups/persons

Create an environment that allows full respect of rights Deep change in attitudes, policies, values, beliefs Prevention and long-term transformation of causes

Restore dignity in the aftermath of violations Support people living with the effects of violations Can be preventive of secondary abuse

Short-term and long-term protection

Prevent imminent abuse: influence,

persuasion, pressure, physical protection

Prevent repetition

Environment-building(long-term prevention)

Reduce sufferingRepair damage

Recuperate dignityRestore normalcy

Modes of action for protection

Substitution: Direct service provision

Capacity building Supporting existing structures

Persuasion Convince actors to fulfill responsibilities

Mobilization Carefully sharing information to bring positive pressure

Public exposure Strategic use of information to influence; can be

denunciation or positive encouragement

Risks in protection work?

Creating more/new risks to the population Risks to relationship with state/non-state

actors Manipulation of assistance and presence

to legitimize perpetrators or violations Bias: no intervention is “neutral” Assistance as substitute to solution Real dilemmas with no “good” outcome

Summary Protection is rights based and human-centred

Safety, security, integrity, dignity, and participation State responsibility Implies collaboration, gap-filling

Protection is often protection from somebody Often necessary to look at causes, and influence

others, directly or indirectlyProtection involves prevention, immediate

response, remedial action and environment building Many different options for action

Defining Protection Safety, Security, Dignity

Complementarity and ResponsibilityModes of Action

Areas for coordination

ProCapProtection Stand-By Training