Addressing protection risks in humanitarian crises

HL Panel "Addressing protection risks, needs and Challenges in humanitarian emergencies, particularly the disproportionate impact on Women and Children"

10.00 – 12.30, Thursday 22 June 2023

Keynote speech by Nada Al-Nashif
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights

Excellencies, fellow panellists,

I am pleased to address this important topic.

This year, we are commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by reminding of its noble aspirations, its joint obligations, common goals that require us to act globally, regionally and domestically, to tackle the global pushback on rights but also in the words of the Secretary-General, urgent and unprecedented humanitarian needs that are unfortunately increasing exponentially. We need comprehensive responses anchored in human rights from preparedness and prevention prior to an emergency, to strengthened resilience and the promotion of solutions for truly sustainable stability and peace.

I will mention three points:

First, protection should be at the very core of any humanitarian response, given that violations of international human rights and humanitarian law are often the root causes and drivers of crises and conflict.

Specifically, this means undertaking holistic approaches in our analysis, policy action and implementation, ensuring the inclusion of all groups, especially the most vulnerable, and identifying the root causes of protection risks. In his introductory remarks, the Chair referred to the lack of regard by parties to armed conflicts to uphold the protections enshrined in international humanitarian law, with its devastating impacts on civilians. It is our responsibility to consistently advocate for the implementation of these standards.

In practice this means that in Somalia, for example, with our support, the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) rolled out a strategy where protection gaps such as aid exclusion based on disability, ethnicity and clan affiliation were identified and data collection enhanced. Using OHCHR’s mapping of minorities affected by drought and conflict, the HCT was able to recalibrate the locations they were targeting.

A human rights-based approach is critical but we need more to be truly inclusive in all contexts and to target protection gaps; this is why we need to recommit to putting people at the heart of humanitarian action, better implementing our Protection Policy and its recommendations.

Second, we should work better together to use limited existing resources more effectively.

The gap between humanitarian needs and available funding keeps growing. Donor funding is also not fairly allocated across sectors and contexts. Protection remains particularly underfunded and forgotten crises - Haiti, Myanmar, Somalia, South Sudan, Ethiopia or Yemen to name a few – especially so, in a striking contrast compared to Ukraine. We must amplify the voices of all in need of assistance, whose rights are violated, and keep their concerns on the international agenda.

Regardless of the setting, all responders working in emergency contexts, and the humanitarian system remain accountable to affected communities, to understand and adequately respond to their needs; so, meaningful participation, and avenues for feedback including through complaint mechanisms must be integrated across all strategies, plans and programmes from the start of an emergency. Scarcity of resources requires a renewed, consistent effort for more coordination, efficiencies and synergies in the delivery of aid.

Thirdly, the best form of protection is prevention.

The UN human rights system and its mechanisms provide a wealth of information supporting early-warning analysis and therefore prevention. This is most effective when the full range of human rights is considered within a given context. Conflict or crisis are rarely caused by isolated violations of individual rights, but by recurring, systematic and widespread violations of sets of rights.

This is also why monitoring and reporting are important: gathering, verifying and analysing information and data on human rights, inclusive of all vulnerable categories, helps identify past and present violations, anticipate and therefore further prevent an escalation of such violations.

To reduce humanitarian needs, as a collective, we can improve how we act on early warning analysis. To give an example, the Chair referred to the seriousness of violations against women and children. OHCHR has been raising the alarm on the situation of women in gang-controlled areas in Haiti since early 2022 - we must keep it on the radar screen to ensure an effective response by all, despite increasing operational restrictions and shrinking humanitarian space.

Let me conclude here by reiterating our readiness to increase our presence and commitment to humanitarian action, as a full member of the IASC and a protection-mandated organisation, that has complementary expertise.

Let me give you a concrete example. Since the beginning of the armed attack on Ukraine, our Office has been publishing civilian casualty updates which have become the go-to statistics for Governments, the media, international agencies and others. Our Monitoring Mission also closely follows conflict-related arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment, and sexual violence, helping to shape relevant protection responses. This, together with a protection presence, helps to deter further violations and ensure future accountability.

This, I believe, is how we can face today’s challenges, anchoring our humanitarian response in human rights, preserving the normative frameworks and actively advocating, jointly, for greater respect for international human rights and humanitarian law.