Red Cross launches 3rd edition of standards for humanitarian actors in conflict regions

AMMAN — The Jordan delegation of the  International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Monday launched the third edition of the Professional Standards for Protection Work, aimed at ensuring that all protection work carried out by humanitarian actors in armed conflict and other situations of violence across the region is safe and effective. 

Launched in cooperation with several humanitarian organisations and actors, the new standards reflect the “shared thinking and common agreement” among human rights practitioners in the UN, NGOs and components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, according to a statement by the ICRC.

“Protection is no longer the exclusive domain of humanitarian organisations,” head of the ICRC delegation in Jordan Juerg Montani said during the launching ceremony, warning that “the current humanitarian situation in the Near and Middle East continues to call for concerted and coordinated efforts from all actors involved in protection work”.

“It is essential to launch the standards here in Amman, because we are at the heart of a region where protection challenges are countless and complex,” the official added. 

Laurent Saugy, head of the protection unit at the ICRC Delegation in Jordan, told The Jordan Times that “the number and diversity of humanitarian and human rights actors involved in activities aiming at enhancing the protection of persons affected by conflicts has increased globally, and Jordan, as a humanitarian hub, is no exception to this trend”, stressing that “it is fundamental that all those working in this field, be it in Jordan or in Syria, meet common professional standards so that their work, principles and motivation are understood by the people affected, the host communities and all concerned authorities”.

“The absence of common professional standards can lead to situations in which protection work could actually harm the people and communities it seeks to protect,” Saugy warned, explaining that “these standards can be used as a reliable reference in developing internal policies, guidelines and organising training”.

The third edition of the document comes as a result of a “wide” consultative process with several protection actors, and it is available for consultation through a mini-site (professionalstandards.
icrc.org) and a smartphone application. 

Comprehensive guidelines on protection and information management have been incorporated given the rapid developments in information and communication technologies and concurrent growth in data-protection regulations, in addition to more detailed information on how to uphold a principled approach to protection work when interacting with UN peace operations and other international forces.