Professional Standards for Protection Work 2024: Fourth edition
The Professional Standards for Protection Work (fourth edition; also available in an abridged version) constitute a set of minimum but essential standards aimed at ensuring that protection work carried out by human rights and humanitarian actors in armed conflict and other situations of violence is safe and effective.
The Professional Standards for Protection Work guide organizations in managing risks, engaging with communities, and coordinating with other actors to uphold the rights of people affected by conflict, violence, or disaster. The standards also emphasize accountability and transparency in protection efforts, ensuring that actions taken are based on a thorough understanding of the context and the specific needs of the affected population.
The standards reflect shared thinking and common agreement among humanitarian and human rights practitioners and were adopted following an ICRC-led consultation process with UN agencies, NGOs, and components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
By adhering to these professional standards, organizations can improve the quality of protection interventions, enhance trust with communities, and contribute to a more coherent and consistent approach to protection across different contexts.
