Incorporating Protection into Humanitarian Action: Approaches and Limits

This paper examines both the conceptual dilemmas of understanding protection and the challenges of operationalizing protection. Particular attention is paid to the role of international actors in protecting conflict-affected populations, the implications of engaging in protection for humanitarian principles, and the power dynamics of protection.

While references are made throughout the paper to UNRWA’s efforts to expand the protection space for Palestinians under its mandate, the emphasis is placed on the parallels between the protection challenges which UNRWA and humanitarian actors in other contexts face.