Protection of all affected and at-risk people (including respect for principles of non-discrimination, do-no-harm inclusion concerns etc.) should be central to all cluster preparedness efforts, immediate and life-saving activities, and throughout the duration of a crisis and beyond. 

Centrality of Protection: The IASC Principals affirmed that all humanitarian actors have a responsibility to place protection at the centre of humanitarian action, in their Statement on the Centrality of Protection in 2013 and the IASC Policy on Protection in Humanitarian Action in 2016. The policy outlines steps for HCs, HCTs and humanitarian actors including clusters to engage collectively to achieve meaningful protection outcomes i.e. that the protection of all affected and at-risk persons informs humanitarian decision-making and response. 

IASC Definition of Protection: The IASC defines protection as “all activities aimed at obtaining full respect for the rights of the individual in accordance with the letter and the spirit of the relevant bodies of law” (i.e. International Human Rights Law (IHRL), International Humanitarian Law, International Refugee law (IR). For more on this, see annex I in the 2016 IASC Policy). 

The centrality of protection in practice can be broadly defined as any effort taken to reduce risks, address vulnerabilities and strengthen capacities of people to cope in the face of crisis. There are many FSC contributions to an overall protective response, even if often they are not articulated as such. For some FSL-related examples, see Annex 1, p. 27, of The Centrality of Protection in Humanitarian Action Review 2019.  

Protection Mainstreaming: This is the process of incorporating protection principles and promoting meaningful access, safety and dignity in humanitarian aid and encouraging the participation and empowerment of the beneficiaries and communities. Practically, it is a way of designing and implementing programmes so that protection risks, and potential violations are taken into consideration. Through protection mainstreaming, all humanitarian interventions should aim at reducing the risks and preventing violations of people’s rights.

To mainstream protection, actors need to understand who is at risk, from what or whom as well as why, and the consequences their actions or inactions may have on the threats people experience and their vulnerability and capacity vis-à-vis these threats. This includes knowing how and where to refer people in need of specialist support to prevent or recover from violence and exploitation, as well as understanding when, how, and to whom to refer specialized protection issues (IASC Policy, 2016, pp. 4-5). 

Four Protection Mainstreaming Principles:  Set out by the Sphere Standards and endorsed by IASC, the following four protection mainstreaming principles should be considered in all humanitarian activities:

1. Prioritize safety and dignity and avoid causing harm: Prevent and minimize as much as possible any unintended negative effects of an intervention that can increase people’s vulnerability to both physical and psychosocial risks.
2. Meaningful access: Arrange for people’s access to assistance and services, in proportion to need and without any barriers (e.g. discrimination). Pay special attention to individuals and groups who may be particularly vulnerable or have difficulty accessing assistance and services (see above points on disability, age, gender).
3. Accountability: Set up appropriate approaches, processes and mechanisms through which affected populations can measure the adequacy of interventions, influence decision making and make informed decisions (see above section on AAP).
4. Participation and empowerment: Support the development of self-protection capacities and assist people to claim their rights, including – not exclusively – the rights to information, shelter, food, water and sanitation, health and education.

See more on protection mainstreaming, from the Global Protection Cluster, here, including this video explaining the key elements. 

Protection Integration: This refers to the design of programmes that support both protection and food security objectives, actively contribute to reduce the risks and exposure of the affected population, and strengthen people's capacities to overcome protection risks. For instance, targeting caregivers from food insecure households with positive parenting programmes and livelihoods interventions could improve food security, reduce physical and emotional violence against children, and contribute to children’s overall well-being.