Protection aims to ensure the full and equal respect for the rights of all individuals, regardless of age, gender or ethnic, social, religious or other background. This requires a common understanding of protection and the means by which it is achieved. We explains who internally displaced persons are and why they need protection and assistance, and outlines the key approaches and core principles that should guide and underpin all protection efforts.

Protection is an objective, which requires full and equal respect for the right of all individuals, without discrimination, as provided for in national and international law. Protection is not limited to survival and physical security but covers the full range of rights, including civil and political rights, such as the right to freedom of movement and to political participation, and economic, social and cultural rights, including the rights to education and health. Protection is a legal responsibility, principally of the State and its agents. In situations of armed conflict, that responsibility extends to all parties to the conflict under international humanitarian law, including armed opposition groups. Human rights, humanitarian and development actors play an important role as well, in particular when States and other authorities are unable or unwilling to fulfill their protection obligations.