The ‘Protection Crisis’: A Review of Field-Based Strategies for Humanitarian Protection in Darfur

This Discussion Paper is part of a study on ‘protection in practice’ by the Humanitarian Policy Group (HPG) at the Overseas Development Institute (ODI). The study aims to examine current practice in humanitarian protection and explore strategies, programmes and initiatives undertaken in different contexts to support the protection of civilians. Focusing on roles, outcomes and the internal and external limitations of humanitarian actors, the purpose of the research is to draw lessons and elicit best practice, rather than evaluate specific programmes or agencies. This Discussion Paper on Darfur, which is complemented by two Background Papers on Colombia and northern Uganda, will inform a comprehensive HPG report on field-based strategies for humanitarian protection due for publication in mid-2007. This work forms part of a wider body of research by HPG on the subject of civilian security and humanitarian protection, which includes separate studies aimed at understanding different concepts of protection (political, human rights and humanitarian) as well as the relevance and application of protective status (refugee, IDP, civilian) for people’s security.