Protection

In humanitarian operations, this sector is referred to as Protection, while in development operations the terms Protection and Human Rights are used interchangeablely to describe DRC’s protection work.

Protection of Conflict- and Displacement-Affected People

The aim of Protection is to ensure that conflict- and displacement-affected people enjoy their human rights and have no displacement-related protection needs.

A positive outcome from a protection intervention results in a broad reduction of risks for affected persons, including decreasing threats to their well-being, reducing their vulnerabilities, and increasing their capacities. This is achieved through changes in behaviour, attitudes, policies, knowledge, and practices on the part of relevant stakeholders.

3 Facets of Protection

Protection is multifaceted. Protection is:

• A sector with sub-components and activities
• An outcome
• A legal responsibility

The Protection sector is responsible for protection activities as well as driving DRC’s protection mainstreaming efforts, while protection mainstreaming is the responsibility of everyone at DRC.

Defining “Protection”

As defined by the Inter Agency Standing Committee, protection consists of: “All activities aimed at ensuring the rights of the individual in accordance with the relevant bodies of law (human rights, humanitarian, and refugee law).”

Protection’s Main Components

DRC’s Protection sector consists of the following components:

• Child Protection (CP)
• Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
• Legal Aid
• Community-Based Protection (CBP)
• Protection Information Management (PIM)
• Psycho-Social Support (PSS)
• Support to Protection coordination (Co-Coordination / Co-Leadership)

While a responsibility for all staff and sectors, the Protection sector promotes:

• Protection mainstreaming
• Age, gender, and diversity mainstreaming