DRAFT – circulated 1 March 2010
PROTECTION PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE PLAN
Protection refers to all activities aimed at ensuring full respect for the rights of the individual in
accordance with the letter and the spirit of relevant bodies of law, including the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, relevant international human rights obligations applicable to
governments and relevant human rights compliant national laws.
The primary responsibility for protection in situations of disaster lies with national governments.
However, Red Cross Societies, national non-governmental organisation, churches and other
civil society actors also play an essential role in providing support to national authorities and
assistance to affected communities. Where national capacity is overwhelmed, the wider
international community stands ready to assist governments to fulfil their responsibilities. In
particular, international protection mandated agencies will support the government in order to
enhance its capacity to prevent circumstances that may lead to protection problems, and to
respond and mitigate the effect of any protection issues that do arise.
The Pacific Humanitarian Protection Cluster (PHPC) was formally established in December
2009 under the Pacific Humanitarian Team. The PHPC will focus attention on emergencies
broadly defined but with particular emphasis on providing guidance and oversight to other
‘operational’ actors on how to integrate protection into their preparedness and response to
natural disasters. To achieve this goal, the PHPC emphasizes the need for community-based
approaches and prioritises a strong relationship with relevant national governments, UN
resident coordinators (and humanitarian coordinators as applicable), the wider humanitarian and
development community, at-risk and affected communities.
In the initial stages, the PHPC has identified four priority countries: Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, and
Solomon Islands; chosen because of the frequency of natural disasters (cyclones, floods,
earthquakes, etc), where existing protection challenges may be exacerbated by new
emergencies, and a lack of awareness and capacity on protection at the national level. Other
countries will receive due attention and support from the PHPC as required, on an ad hoc basis,
upon agreement among PHPC members, and after consultation with relevant international,
regional, and national stakeholders.
In line with the Do No Harm approach, the PHPC will give particular attention to ensuring that
short term protection interventions during the emergency phase do not undermine or jeopardize
prospects of full recovery and durable solutions for all persons affected by a natural disaster,
while at the same time ensuring that longer term early recovery frameworks are sensitive to and
integrate the protection needs and rights of the affected population.
1. Objective
The key objective of the protection sector response plan is to ensure that all persons affected by
a natural disaster are provided with effective, adequate and timely assistance and protection, as
well as to ensure that any disaster response integrates and protects the fundamental rights of
those affected in accordance with the bodies of laws listed above.
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DRAFT – circulated 1 March 2010
2. Preparedness: Capacity and Environment Building Measures
During the preparedness phase, capacity and environment building measures aim at creating
and consolidating an environment conducive to full respect for the rights of the individual. Such
a protective environment should contribute to lessen the damaging impacts of natural disasters
on individuals as well as to prepare the grounds for full recovery.
Measure
Establish regional Pacific
Humanitarian Protection Cluster
Lead Agencies
OHCHR, UNHCR
Timeline
By Jan.
2010
Establish Protection Emergency
Team (roster system)
OHCHR, UNHCR
By July
2010
Training for PHPC members on
Mainstreaming HIV-Aids
UNAIDS
By July
2010
Training for PHPC members on
Women Protection / GBV
OCHA / GenCap adviser
By Sept
2010
Review of Code of Conduct
prevalence (PHPC members)
OHCHR, UNHCR
By Sept
2010
Identify and build the capacity of
national protection focal points in
four priority countries
OHCHR, UNHCR
By Sept
2010
Raise awareness on protection
in natural disasters (workshops
in four priority countries)
Fiji: UNICEF, OHCHR
Samoa: UNICEF/ UNFPA, OHCHR
Vanuatu: UNICEF, OHCHR
Solomon: UNICEF, OHCHR
By Sept
2010
Review Checklists on Integrating
Human Rights in Natural
Disaster Management
UNDP Pacific Centre, OHCHR
Develop and distribute Toolkit on
Protection in Natural Disasters
OHCHR, UNHCR
Draft by
July 2010 –
published
Oct. 2010
Ongoing
Dissemination of protection
guidelines to national and
international stakeholders
Women/SGBV: UNFPA/UNIFEM, UNHCR
Children: UNICEF, SC, UNHCR
Older Persons: UNFPA
Persons with Disabilities: UNESCAP
Persons living with HIV/AIDS: UNAIDS
Ongoing
Review of national disaster
management plans in four
priority countries to identify and
try to address protection gaps
Fiji: UNICEF, OHCHR
Samoa: UNICEF/UNFPA, UNDP, OHCHR
Vanuatu: UNICEF, OHCHR
Solomon: UNICEF, OHCHR
By Sept
2010
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DRAFT – circulated 1 March 2010
Set up / enhance protection
referral systems in the four
priority countries
Fiji: UNICEF, UNFPA, UNIFEM
Samoa: UNICEF/UNFPA, UNIFEM
Vanuatu: UNICEF, UNFPA, UNIFEM
Solomon: UNICEF, UNFPA, UNIFEM
By Sept
2010
Pre-positioning of kits in areas at
risk according to emergency
profile in four priority countries
Evacuation centre kits: UNICEF
Family kits: UNICEF
Children kits: UNICEF
Dignity kits: UNFPA, UNIFEM
PEP kits: UNFPA, UNAIDS
By Sept
2010
Advocacy towards national and
international stakeholders on
mainstreaming protection into
disaster risk reduction and
contingency planning
Women/SGBV: UNFPA, UNIFEM, UNHCR
Children: SC, UNICEF
Older Persons: UNFPA
Persons with Disabilities: UNESCAP
Persons living with HIV/AIDS: UNAIDS
Internally Displaced Persons: OHCHR,
UNHCR, IOM
Land, housing property: UN-Habitat
Personal ID documents: OHCHR, UNHCR
Ongoing
3. Emergency Response
Emergency response interventions aim at stopping, preventing and mitigating the damaging
impacts of natural disaster on individuals. These interventions are short-termed and focus on
the protection of life, security and physical, mental and moral integrity (i.e. evacuations and
other life-saving measures, protection against violence, including gender-based violence, etc.),
as well as on the protection of rights related to the basic necessities of life (i.e. adequate food,
water, shelter, clothing, other non food items, health and sanitation, natural resources).
Intervention
ad hoc meeting (tele-conference) to
decide on deployment of PET and to
activate national Protection Cluster
Lead Agencies
OHCHR, UNHCR
Timeline
At onset of
emergency
Inter-agency rapid initial protection
assessment in affected areas and
evacuation sites with focus on access to
relief assistance for vulnerable groups
Protection Emergency Team
72hrs up to
max. 2
weeks after
disaster
Participatory protection monitoring in
affected areas, evacuation, return and
relocation sites, as well as local
integration opportunities
Protection Emergency Team
2, 6, 12
months after
disaster
Advocacy / Common messages to
national & international stakeholders
Protection Emergency Team
Throughout
emergency
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DRAFT – circulated 1 March 2010
Liaise actively with national government
on status of displaced, and options for
return, relocation and local integration
Protection Emergency Team
Throughout
emergency
Emergency Family Tracing and
Reunification programme
UNICEF, Save the Children (with
national Red Cross Societies)
Throughout
emergency
Psychosocial support for most
vulnerable persons and groups
UNICEF, Save the Children (with
national Red Cross Societies)
Throughout
emergency
Technical support to national and local
authorities for the implementation of
national disaster management plans
Women: UNFPA, UNIFEM
Children: UNICEF, SC
Older Persons: UNFPA
Persons with Disabilities: ESCAP
Persons living with HIV/AIDS:
UNAIDS
Internally Displaced Persons:
UNHCR, OHCHR and IOM
Land, housing, property: UNHabitat
Where/when
appropriate
4. Early Recovery activities
Early recovery activities aim at restoring dignity of all affected persons and ensuring adequate
living conditions after the emergency phase. This is a longer term process which involves the
recuperation of health, restoration of livelihood, housing, education, etc.
Activity
Participate in multi-sectoral joint early
recovery assessments
Lead Agencies
UNDP Pacific Centre with National
Protection Cluster Lead
Liaise actively with government on
issues of land tenure and security
UN-Habitat with National Protection
Cluster Lead
Timeline
6 months & 1
year after
disaster
Throughout
emergency
Liaise actively with government on
replacement of personal documents
OHCHR / UNHCR with National
Protection Cluster Lead
Throughout
emergency
Evaluation of protection emergency
response (report with lessons learned)
OHCHR, UNHCR with National
Protection Cluster Lead
Psychosocial support for most
vulnerable persons and groups
UNICEF and Save the Children
(with national red cross societies)
Protection monitoring and reporting, with
particular focus on vulnerable groups’
access to recovery assistance
OHCHR/ UNHCR with National
Protection Cluster Lead
6 months to
1 year after
disaster
Throughout
recovery
phase
Throughout
recovery
phase
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DRAFT – circulated 1 March 2010
Assess and reinforce community-based
protection monitoring capacity to identify
gaps/needs for further support
OHCHR/ UNHCR National
Protection Cluster Lead
6 months to
1 year after
disaster
Advocacy towards national and
international stakeholders with specific
focus on recovery assistance for
vulnerable persons and groups
OHCHR/ UNHCR with National
Protection Cluster Lead
Throughout
recovery
phase
Contribute to review and update of
national disaster management plans,
taking into consideration lessons learned
from protection response
National Protection Cluster Lead
1 year after
disaster
Technical support to national and local
authorities/services on protection of
vulnerable groups in early recovery
Women / SGBV: UNFPA, UNIFEM,
UNHCR
Children: SC, UNICEF
Older Persons: UNFPA
Persons with Disability: UNESCAP
Persons living with HIV/AIDS:
UNAIDS
Internally Displaced Persons /
Migrations: UNHCR, OHCHR, IOM
Land, housing, property: UN-Habitat
Where/when
appropriate
5. Operational Constraints

Constrained and difficult access to survivors in affected areas (damaged infrastructures;
weather conditions during rainy season, etc.)

Dispersion of affected persons (challenges for identification and aid distribution)

Few agencies with mandate and expertise on protection issues resulting in limited
coverage, and need to build capacity during the response

Lack of technical leadership on protection in affected countries

Insufficient protection mainstreaming across sectors and actors resulting in:
o limited availability/access to multi-sector sex & age-disaggregated data;
o few organizations with age, gender, diversity sensitive programmes;
o lack of multi-sector coordination and referral pathways.

Lack of implementing partners in certain geographic areas

Few implementing partners with capacity and willingness to work on sensitive protection
issues such as for example sexual and gender based violence
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DRAFT – circulated 1 March 2010
6. Roles and responsibilities

From December 2009, the PHPC operates based on agreed Terms of Reference. In line
with the cluster approach, PHPC chairs are the designated providers of last resort.

Through its Protection Emergency Team inter-agency regional roster system, the PHPC
will deploy personnel to help activating a national level protection cluster within the first
week after a disaster. The national level Protection Cluster will be responsible for the
overall coordination of the protection response.

OHCHR and UNHCR will be responsible for liaising and information-sharing with the
national authorities on the protection response

During the emergency phase, the Humanitarian Coordinator with support from UNOCHA
is responsible for ensuring liaison between the Protection Clusters and other national
clusters through cluster coordination meetings.

The chairs of the Protection Cluster will liaise regularly with donors and ensure the
contribution of the Protection Cluster to multilateral funding/appeal initiatives. Protection
Cluster members are responsible for bilateral donor liaison and fundraising.
7. Additional Personnel Requirements
Deployment of stand-by Senior Advisers (Protection, Gender, Assessment, etc.) skilled in
humanitarian response required at the onset of the emergency phase.
8. Additional Material Requirements
Items
Number
(total)
Location
Agency
Projected
needs
Gaps
Financial
requirements
Possible
source
Remarks
PEP Kits
Family Kits
Children Kits
Dignity Kits
Evacuation
Centre Kits
9. Collaborative Partners (ref to contacts lists)
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