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Haiti

HRP 2017: A Protection and Gender Lens for All Actors

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The IASC guidance on the Centrality of Protection lays out how all humanitarians are responsible for ensuring protection. The 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) should promote a concept of a ‘Protection Lens’. This is in addition to the IASC ‘Gender Marker’ which is required for all programming and mandatory in the Online Project System (OPS) where you have to upload your projects.

PLANNING: PROTECTION AND GENDER/GBV MATTERS TO CONSIDER

Protection, gender/GBV and vulnerability concerns should be part of your planning phase – you are not likely to reach everyone at the same time: consider who (by age, gender and diversity) are the most vulnerable and what assistance is most appropriate when prioritizing your work (see box on people in need).

Communication with communities about a) their needs and b) for information sharing about options, is crucial for designing appropriate responses. Meet not only with traditional community leaders who are often men, but also women, youth, children, older and disabled persons who may not be part of decision making. This helps to minimize the risks that the project may miss its target.

Do no harm: the way you provide assistance must not expose people to danger. Avoid unintended consequences, e.g. by organizing distributions without informing the community adequately. The way in which relief items are distributed has a significant impact on the threats experienced by women and children.

Distribution systems must be efficient and well-planned to safeguard the population and vulnerable groups from violence, exploitation and abuse. How do you ensure that the staff hired under your project has been properly trained to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse? Women, girls and boys are particularly at risk of sexual exploitation and abuse concerns and you should consider how to address this.