The Protection Library contains key legal and operational guidance documents on protection and protection coordination. We will be updating and adding to the library on a regular basis. Your comments and suggestions are welcome and can be shared with us at hqproclu@unhcr.org.

SELECTED HANDBOOKS & MANUALS

• Handbook for the Protection of Internally Displaced Persons, PCWG, 2007.
• Protecting Conflict-Induced IDPs: Assessment for Action, UNHCR, 2008.
• Handbook on the Protection of Women and Girls, UNHCR, 2008.
• Protection: An ALNAP Guide for Humanitarian Emergencies, ODI, 2005.
• Enhancing Protection for Civilians in Armed Conflict and Other Situations of Violence, ICRC, 2008.
• Operational Protection in Camps and Settlements: A Reference Guide of Good Practices in the Protection of Refugees and Other Persons of Concern, UNHCR, 2006.
• Guide to International Human Rights Mechanisms for Internally Displaced Persons and Their Advocates, Brookings Institution-Bern Project on Internal Displacement, 2006.
• Women, Girls, Boys and Men: Different Needs – Equal Opportunities, IASC, 2006.
• Protecting Persons Affected by Natural Disasters: IASC Operational Guidelines (2006) and Manual (Pilot Version, 2008) on Human Rights and Natural Disasters.
• Aide Memoire for the Consideration of Issues Pertaining to the Protection of Civilians, OCHA, 2009.
• Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response, SPHERE Project, 2004.
• Growing the Sheltering Tree: Protecting Rights Through Humanitarian Action, IASC, 2002.
• Manual on Field Practice in Internal Displacement, IASC, 1999.

NATIONAL LAW

• Database on National and Regional Laws and Policies on Internal Displacement
• ICRC Database on the Implementation of International Humanitarian Law
• Addressing Internal Displacement: A Framework for National Responsibility, Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement, 2005
• Protecting Internally Displaced Persons: A Manual for Law and Policy Makers, Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement, 2008.

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW

• Compilation of International Human Rights Law
• Universal Human Rights Index of United Nations Documents
• UN Treaty Body Database (Ratifications & Reservations)
• Human Rights: A Basic Handbook for UN Staff, OHCHR, 2000.
• International Legal Standards Module, Action for the Rights of Children, 2002.
• Human Rights: Handbook for Parliamentarians, OHCHR / IPU, 2005.
• Implementation Handbook for the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF, 2002.
• Bringing Equality Home: Implementing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, UNIFEM, 1998.
• Guide to International Human Rights Mechanisms for Internally Displaced Persons and their Advocates, Brookings Institution-Bern Project on Internal Displacement, 2006.
• Frequently Asked Questions on International Humanitarian, Human Rights and Refugee Law in the Context of Armed Conflict, IASC, 2004

INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW

• International Humanitarian Law: Answers to Your Questions, ICRC, 2002
• Database on International Humanitarian Law
• Respect for International Humanitarian Law: A Handbook for Parliamentarians, IPU/ICRC 1993
• Website of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
• Frequently Asked Questions on International Humanitarian, Human Rights and Refugee Law in the Context of Armed Conflict, IASC, 2004

INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW

• The International Criminal Court (ICC)
• The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
• The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)
• The Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL)

GUIDING PRINCIPLES on INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT

• Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (in over 35 languages)
• Global Database on the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement
• Handbook for Applying the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, OCHA / Brookings, 1999 (in 11 languages).
• Annotations to the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, American Society of International Law, 2000 (in 3 languages)
• When Displacement Ends: A Framework for Durable Solutions, The Brookings Institution, 2007.
• Protecting Internally Displaced Persons: A Manual for Law and Policy Makers, Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement, 2008.
• Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC)
• Website of the Representative of the Secretary-General on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (RSG-IDPs)
• ICRC on Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons and International Humanitarian Law

RIGHTS-BASED APPROACH

• Human Rights Guidance Note for Humanitarian Coordinators, IASC, 2006
• Frequently Asked Questions on Human Rights-Based Approach to Development Cooperation, OHCHR 2006
• Indicators for Human Rights Based Approach to Development in UNDP Programming: A Users’ Guide, UNDP, 2006
• UNDG website on Human Rights-Based Approach to Development Programming

COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH

• Manual for Applying a Community-based Approach in UNHCR Operations, UNHCR, 2008
• Community Mobilisation Module, Action for the Rights of Children, 2002
• Participation by Crisis-Affected Populations in Humanitarian Action: A Handbook for Practitioners, ALNAP/ODI, 2003.

AGE, GENDER & DIVERSITY

- Gender

• Women, Girls, Boys and Men: Different Needs – Equal Opportunities, IASC 2006
• Handbook for the Protection of Women and Girls, UNHCR, 2008
• Displaced Women and Girls at Risk: Risk Factors, Protection Solutions and Resource Tools, WCRWC, 2006
• Addressing the Needs of Women Affected by Armed Conflict: An ICRC Guidance Document, ICRC, 2004
• A Practical Guide to Empowerment: Good Practices on Gender Equality Mainstreaming, UNHCR, 2001
• Gender Resource Package for Peace-Keeping Operations, DPKO, 2004
• ICRC on Women and War and International Humanitarian Law

- Older persons

• United Nations Principles for Older Persons (General Assembly Resolution 46/91 of 16 Dec 1991)
• Humanitarian Action and Older Persons: An Essential Brief for Humanitarian Actors, IASC, 2008
• Older People in Disasters and Humanitarian Crisis: Guidelines for Best Practice, HelpAge International / UNHCR
• Protecting and Assisting Older People in Emergencies, HPN Paper 53, ODI, 2005
• Older People and Discrimination in Crisis, World Disasters Report (Chapter 3), IFRC, 2007
• Strong and Fragile: Learning from Older People in Emergencies, HelpAge International / IASC / UNFPA, 2007
• Rebuilding lives in longer-term emergencies: Older people’s experience in Darfur, HelpAge International. 2006

- Persons with disabilities

• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• Disabilities: Handbook for Parliamentarians, OHCHR / IPU, 2007
• Disabilities among Refugess and Conflict-Affected Populations: Resource Kit for Field-Workers, WCRWC, 2008
• Disability Module, Action for the Rights of Children, 2002
• Compilation of International Norms and Standards Relating to Disability

- Children

COORDINATION

• Guidance Note on Using the Cluster Approach to Strengthen Humanitarian Response, IASC, 24 Nov 2006. Arabic / English / French
• IASC Generic Terms of Reference for Sector/Cluster Leads at the Country Level, IASC 2006
• Revised Terms of Reference for Humanitarian Coordinators, IASC, 2007
• IASC Human Rights Guidance Note for Humanitarian Coordinators, IASC 2006
• Operational Guidance on Designating Sectoral/Cluster Leads in Major New Emergencies and Major Ongoing Emergencies, IASC Task-Team on the Cluster Approach, 23 May 2007
• Operational Guidance on the Concept of 'Provider of Last Resort', IASC, June 2008.
• Implementing the Collaborative Response to Situations of Internal Displacement: Guidance for UN Humanitarian and/or Resident Coordinators and Country Teams, IASC, 2004

NEGOTIATION

• Guidelines on Humanitarian Negotiations with Armed Groups, United Nations, 2006.
• Humanitarian Negotiations with Armed Groups: A Manual for Practitioners, United Nations, 2006.
• Humanitarian Negotiation: A Handbook for Securing Access, Assistance and Protection for Civilians in Armed Conflict, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, 2004.

 ASSESSMENT & ANALYSIS

• Protecting Conflict-Induced IDPs: Assessment for Action, UNHCR, 2007
• The UNHCR Tool for Participatory Assessment in Operations, UNHCR, 2006
• Ethical Approaches to Gathering Information from Children and Adolescents in International Settings: Guidelines and Resources, the Population Council, 2005
• Guidance on Profiling of Internally Displaced Persons, IDMC / OCHA, 2008

CONTINGENCY PLANNING

• IASC Contingency Planning Guidelines for Humanitarian Assistance, IASC, 2007

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

• Operational Guidance on Responsibilities of Cluster/Sector Leads & OCHA in Information Management, IASC, 2007

RESOURCE MOBILIZATION

• Humanitarian Appeal for 2008
• Guidelines for Consolidated Appeals and Flash Appeals
• Financial Tracking Service (FTS)
• Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)