Humanitarian protection refers to legal mechanisms and policies established by governments to provide refuge, assistance, and support to individuals who are fleeing persecution, violence, conflict, natural disasters, or other life-threatening situations in their home countries. Humanitarian protection is grounded in principles of compassion, solidarity, and respect for human rights, and aims to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of vulnerable populations in need of assistance and refuge.

Key features of humanitarian protection include:

• Refugee status: Humanitarian protection often includes the recognition of refugee status for individuals who meet the criteria outlined in international refugee law, such as the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. Refugees are individuals who have fled their home countries due to a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. They are entitled to legal protection and assistance, including access to asylum procedures, refugee status determination, and durable solutions such as resettlement, integration, or voluntary return.

• Asylum protection: Humanitarian protection may also encompass the granting of asylum to individuals who seek refuge in another country and meet the criteria for asylum eligibility under domestic or international law. Asylum seekers are individuals who have fled persecution or serious human rights violations in their home countries and are seeking protection in another country. They have the right to apply for asylum and have their claims assessed in accordance with established asylum procedures and legal standards.

• Temporary protection: In emergency situations such as armed conflict, natural disasters, or mass displacement, governments may provide temporary protection to individuals who are unable to return to their home countries due to ongoing risks to their safety and security. Temporary protection may include measures such as temporary visas, residence permits, or humanitarian visas that allow individuals to remain in the receiving country until conditions improve in their country of origin.

• Humanitarian assistance and support: Humanitarian protection encompasses efforts to provide humanitarian assistance, support, and services to displaced populations, including refugees, asylum seekers, and other persons in need of protection. This may include access to shelter, food, water, healthcare, education, psychosocial support, legal assistance, and other essential services to address their immediate and long-term needs.

• International cooperation and solidarity: Humanitarian protection relies on international cooperation, collaboration, and solidarity among governments, humanitarian organizations, civil society actors, and other stakeholders to address the needs of displaced populations effectively. International frameworks, such as the Global Compact on Refugees and the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework, promote principles of burden-sharing, responsibility-sharing, and collective action to enhance protection and assistance for refugees and other displaced persons.

Overall, humanitarian protection plays a crucial role in upholding the rights and dignity of displaced populations and ensuring that individuals fleeing persecution and violence receive the protection and support they need to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity. By providing refuge, assistance, and solidarity to those in need, humanitarian protection contributes to the promotion of peace, stability, and human rights around the world.