New report calls for more support and prioritization of humanitarian protection programs

More needs to be done to prioritize humanitarian protection programs and to support and empower local NGOs and civil society groups, in order to respond to record-levels of forced displacement and the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This is according to The Centrality of Protection in Humanitarian Action in 2020 report, released this week by the UNHCR, UN Refugee Agency-led Global Protection Cluster (GPC).

The report analyzes the cumulative impact of conflict, disasters, economic crises, eroded governance systems and the pandemic on conflict-affected and displaced civilians – and how protection programs – that aim to protect their human rights and improve their safety - were implemented across various crises.

It also provides a number of recommendations to humanitarian actors, donors and the international community to improve the response. Among these include the need to increase funding for protection activities - which remain chronically underfunded (by less than half) - and the need to support localized responses.

Local-led humanitarian organizations currently receive only nine per cent of protection funding, despite often playing a critical role as the sole provider of protection services in settings where humanitarian access is curtailed to international organizations, owing to security or Covid-related response measures.

With new and renewed conflicts continuing to jeopardize the lives and rights of civilians, the GPC projects 150 million people will be in need of humanitarian protection support in 2022 – including survivors of targeted attacks and sexual violence, victims of child recruitment, marginalized and disadvantaged groups and people who have experienced trauma, among others.

• The full report is available here.
• Join the launch event for the report on 8 December at 1600 CET: On the Frontlines: Insights into the State of Protection in 2021
• Notes:

The Global Protection Cluster is a network of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations and United Nations agencies engaged in protection work in humanitarian crises, including armed conflict, climate change related and disaster. It is led by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.

The GPC unites members, partners and communities working on the full spectrum of protection activities, including in four specialized Areas of Responsibility; Child Protection, Gender-Based Violence, Housing, Land and Property and Mine Action.