Welcoming the Stranger: Exploring the Role of Faith Actors in Protecting Displaced Persons, Global Protection Forum 2021

The protection of the human rights of people affected by humanitarian crises is increasingly becoming an important part of humanitarian preparedness and emergency response. This is particularly critical because all across the world, humanitarian crises, be they as a result of conflicts, climate change, or other disasters not only result in suffering of people, but often expose them to violations of their rights and of international human rights and humanitarian law.  

Different stakeholders within the humanitarian and human rights sectors – ranging from governments, UN agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations- play an important role in fostering the protection of the human rights of people affected by crises. Increasingly, the role of faith-based humanitarian, development and advocacy organizations in the protection of the human rights of people affected by humanitarian crises has been recognised.  

This session will explore the unique role that FBOs play specifically in welcoming and protecting displaced persons from a human rights perspective. It will further explore the human rights approaches, religious and faith principles, and opportunities for interfaith collaboration between FBOs from different faith perspectives.