Mainstreaming and responding

1Protection mainstreaming

Protection mainstreaming means applying protection principles in all programmes, whatever the sector. The Global Protection Cluster identifies four elements:

• Prioritise safety and dignity, and avoid causing harm: prevent and minimise the negative effects of the intervention. Examples: sex-segregated latrines, lit and lockable from the inside, less than 50 m from shelters according to Sphere; distributions finished before nightfall.
• Meaningful access: access without barriers, in proportion to need and without discrimination, paying attention to people with disabilities, older people, isolated people or those without documents.
• Accountability: mechanisms through which people can give feedback, complain and receive a response, including confidential channels for sexual exploitation and abuse.
• Participation and empowerment: involve people in design and monitoring, and strengthen their own protection capacities.

The four Sphere Protection Principles point in the same direction: enhance people's safety, dignity and rights and avoid exposing them to further harm; ensure access to assistance according to need; assist people to recover from the effects of violence; help people claim their rights.

2The ICRC Professional Standards

The Professional Standards for Protection Work, published by the ICRC (third edition, 2018) following consultation with United Nations agencies, NGOs and human rights organisations, set common minimum requirements. The most important ones:

• Place people and the prevention of harm at the centre: every activity is assessed according to its risks for the people concerned.
• Act according to the principles of humanity, impartiality and non-discrimination, and clearly define one's objectives and mode of action.
• Base the strategy on regularly updated analysis, and seek complementarity with other actors rather than duplication.
• Manage personal data and sensitive information rigorously: purpose, security, limited and protected sharing.
• Have the necessary professional capacity: training, supervision, support for staff exposed to traumatic accounts.

3Individual protection assistance and referral

Individual protection assistance responds to a specific situation that exposes a person or household to a risk: a one-off cash transfer to avoid an eviction or a child being taken out of school, an assistive device for a person with a disability, legal support, transport to a service. It is based on an individual assessment, an action plan, follow-up and documented closure, often within the framework of protection case management.

Safe referral requires up-to-date service mapping (who does what, where, with which criteria), the person's consent, sharing the minimum of information and checking that the service has actually been received. For GBV survivors, the survivor-centred approach applies: safety, confidentiality, respect for choices, non-discrimination. All staff must know how to provide psychological first aid and refer, even without being specialists.

4Civil documentation, HLP and mine action

Civil documentation (birth certificate, identity card, marriage or death certificate) determines access to services, freedom of movement, inheritance and durable solutions. Responses: legal information, support with procedures, mobile courts, advocacy for free issuance and late birth registration.

Housing, land and property (HLP) concerns security of tenure, forced evictions, secondary occupation of displaced people's property, women's rights to inherit and own, and land disputes. The Pinheiro Principles (2005) enshrine the right to restitution. In practice: written rental agreements, dispute mediation, land verification before any shelter construction.

Mine action comprises five pillars: humanitarian demining, explosive ordnance risk education, victim assistance, stockpile destruction and advocacy, in particular for the Ottawa Convention (1997). The key awareness messages: do not touch, do not approach, mark if possible without touching, retrace your steps and report to the authorities or demining operators. No non-specialist humanitarian handles or moves a device.