IASC, Protect or Neglect: Toward a More Effective United Nations Approach to the Protection of Internally Displaced Persons, 2004

One of the more daunting challenges of the 21st century is to provide assistance and protection to people uprooted within their own countries, especially those who are vulnerable to starvation, physical violence, acts of genocide or other serious abuse of their human rights. The recommendations present a formidable challenge to the UN and to governments. The UN must assume a leadership role in advocating for the protection of the displaced, and in working with governments and others in the international community, to safeguard the human rights of people caught up in rampages of violence and destruction in their own countries.

 This product consists of two parts:

1) The first part defines protection as follows: who is responsible for what and to whom.

2) Part two elaborates on protection in practice, such as environment, dissemination and advocacy, engaging non-state actors, early warning and preparedness, and strengthening local and national protection capacity. It also includes a vulnerability assessment, monitoring and reporting on protection needs and how to integrate protection into development strategies, instruments and in the design of humanitarian programmes.