Protection and vulnerabilities

Protection is an inseparable part of the Red Cross's identity and all its activities

Protection means all the ways in which we ensure that people's human dignity, safety and fundamental rights are realized.

We want to ensure that people in need of help are safe in our Red Cross activities, and that we do not cause them harm through our own actions.

Protection is not just separate actions or something that is the responsibility of certain individuals. It is a way of operating that applies to all Red Cross activities: decision-making, volunteer work, services, encounters and cooperation with other actors.

In Red Cross activities, the basics of protection are that

people are treated with dignity and respect,
help and activities are accessible to all people,
people have the opportunity to participate and be heard,
activities are safe and do not cause harm.

The realization of these is the minimum level of protection and belongs to all Red Cross activities. In addition to these, the organization provides further measures to ensure protection, but they require special expertise and clear operating models.

A key part of protection is listening to the people we support. We cannot understand people's needs without asking them directly. This is why communities and people in need of assistance should be involved from the planning stage onwards: listening, asking questions, and taking their views into account. It is also important that participants know how they can provide feedback and raise concerns safely.

Threats do not affect everyone in the same way

People in the same situation can face very different impacts. Vulnerability means susceptibility to harmful effects as well as the ability to cope with situations that threaten well-being or safety.

Vulnerability is not a characteristic of a person, but arises from circumstances, structures and the environment. It can be temporary or long-lasting and varies according to the situation, the threat and the individual or group. The same person can be especially vulnerable in one situation and capable in another – or both at the same time.

Vulnerability is part of being human. Everyone has situations in which we are susceptible to harmful effects. Vulnerability should not be understood as an identity or a label, but as the effect of circumstances and structures.

Internal protection – how we operate

The Red Cross must ensure that our own activities are safe and respect everyone's rights. This means, for example, that:

we do not cause harm
we assess the possible harmful consequences of our activities in advance
we prevent sexual exploitation and harassment
we look after the safety of children
we handle personal data appropriately

External protection – how we make an impact

Protection also means influencing situations in which people's fundamental rights are violated or they are at risk of violence or exploitation. This means, for example:

we guide people to the services of authorities and other protection actors
we promote the realization of people's rights
we influence rules, practices and norms

Responsibility for protecting people lies primarily with the state and the authorities. The Red Cross's task is, in dialogue with the authorities, to promote the realization of everyone's rights.

What makes up vulnerability?

Vulnerability arises in relation to a threat. Different factors influence who is exposed and what the consequences are. These factors can increase or decrease vulnerability, and their significance varies depending on the situation. They affect both how likely a person is to be exposed to a threat and how serious the consequences of the threat are and how well the person is able to cope.

Examples of factors affecting vulnerability include age, gender, functional capacity, physical or mental health, pregnancy, the strength of social networks, language skills and cultural competence, discrimination, racism, exploitation, financial resources, access to services, legal status, restrictions on movement, homelessness, addictions and traumatic experiences.

Vulnerability often arises from the combined effect of many things. When we look at a person's situation as a whole, we better understand why some people more easily end up in difficulties and what kinds of things help them cope.

Why do we talk about vulnerability?

Taking vulnerability into account helps us act fairly, effectively and safely – for the benefit of everyone. In practice, this means that we identify situations in which people are at greater risk of being left without support or facing harm, and we act in ways that reduce this risk.

The Strategy 2030 of the Red Cross and Red Crescent guides the entire movement to identify factors that increase vulnerability, reduce the risks associated with them and strengthen people's ability to cope in everyday life. The goal is that no one is left aside or alone.

What this means in practice:

• Readiness and preparedness: When we identify in which situations people may be vulnerable and why, we are able to notice dangers and identify risks in time, prepare for them and act smoothly in situations.

• Need for help and prioritization: Help is directed to where the need is greatest. Examining vulnerability helps us understand who needs support the most and in what order it is worth acting when resources are limited.

• Protection: Identifying vulnerability helps us notice situations in which people may be exposed to violence, exploitation or violations of their rights – and to intervene in time.

• Avoiding harm ("Do no harm"): When we identify vulnerabilities, we can ensure that our own activities are safe and do not cause unintentional harm.

• Emergency conditions and crises: In crises, people's safety nets often weaken and risks increase. That is why understanding vulnerabilities is especially important then. People in vulnerable positions are also at the greatest risk in such situations.

Related concepts

Risk: the probability and severity of harm, formed by threat, exposure and vulnerability.

Protection risk: exposure to violence, coercion or loss of rights, influenced by threat, vulnerability and coping capacity.

Vulnerable position: a situation in which a person does not have the same opportunities as others to safeguard their well-being and rights.

Weaker position: refers to more general disadvantage that is not always related to a specific threat. In practice, a weaker position and a vulnerable position can mean similar situations, but their emphases differ.

Need for help: arises when a person is unable to secure their basic needs themselves, such as shelter, health or safety, and needs outside support; the need for help is related to threat and vulnerability, not merely to deprivation.

Resilience: the ability to cope, adapt and recover from threatening situations. Resilience and vulnerability are both situation-dependent and formed from several protective factors, but their perspective is different.

Additional information

IFRC PGI (Protection, Gender, and Inclusion): A Red Cross Movement framework that promotes protection and rights and takes diversity and inclusion into account in all activities.

IFRC eVCA (Enhanced Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment): A participatory method for identifying communities' vulnerabilities and capacities to respond to crises.

The Red Cross and Red Crescent Federation's learning platform (IFRC Learning Platform) offers various good trainings related to the theme. All Red Cross actors can register on the platform. Trainings are available in different languages, for example in English, French and Spanish. A good first training on this theme is Introduction to Protection, Gender and Inclusion at the IFRC.