Mozambique Protection Cluster - Protection in Emergencies is Critical and Lifesaving

▪ Northern Mozambique continues to be a Protection crisis. IDPs face increased exposure to protection risks in the course of flight and once displaced. These include : family separation; sexual and gender-based violence including in IDP camps or camp-like settings; child recruitment; sexual harassment or harassment by armed actors; abduction; risk of harm from mines and unexploded ordinances; and discrimination.
Specifically in Cabo Delgado, displaced populations have been subjected to physical assault, abductions, murders, discrimination, gender-based violence, forced recruitment, family separation and sexual harassment as well as harassment by armed forces. Women and children are at heightened risk of gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and abuse, and hampered children’s access to education. Other serious protection concerns include early and forced marriage. The crisis has had devastating consequences for the psychosocial health of people impacted.

▪ Protection is Lifesaving. Protection spans, remedies, mitigates and averts direct loss of life and harm to people within a short time. It also protects their dignity and avoids long term harmful impact on the affected population. Where no action is swiftly taken on protection issues, affected populations are at significant higher risk of death, trauma and serious injuries than when there is a protection intervention. Protection is a lifesaving activity particularly for persons with specific protection needs, who, due to their vulnerabilities, may not be able to reach and seek intervention, and therefore should be identified. Please see below more granular information on specific protection activities and an explanation on why each protection activity is lifesaving.

▪ Centrality of Protection. Protection is the heartbeat of any emergency operation, even outside the cluster system, as it addresses the most salient vulnerability issues. CERF recognizes that protection is one of the main purposes and intended outcomes of humanitarian action. Hence, the protection of all persons affected and at-risk informs humanitarian decision-making and response. Protection response is therefore paramount, and the role of protection actors in supporting other clusters in mainstreaming and advocating for protection principles is crucial.
Protection needs to be central to the IDP response since protection risks are the driver of displacement, pervasive during displacement, and a primary impediment to durable solutions.