Putting Safety and Dignity First: A guide to protective action in programming

The CWS protection mainstreaming manual and training pack are resources for CWS staff and partners as they seek to promote the safety, dignity and fundamental rights of individuals in all programs. The manual describes what protection is, who needs it, and the role that nongovernmental organizations and other actors play in providing it. The training pack includes 13 activities designed to provide an understanding of protection and practical guidance on how to apply the protection framework to programming.

CWS's Commitment to Protection

Protection means promoting the safety, dignity and fundamental rights of individuals and communities. CWS's work on protection stems from a core commitment to human dignity. For CWS, protection means creating the conditions under which people are empowered and enabled to live safe and dignified lives. It acknowledges that humanitarian and development programs may either increase or decrease peoples' safety and dignity depending on how they are carried out.

Approach to Protection and Mainstreaming

The safety and dignity of individuals and communities should be prioritized in all programs. To that end, the CWS Mainstreaming Protection Project is working to:

• Establish an organization-wide standard of practice on protection, through the Minimum Standards and Indicators for Protection Mainstreaming;
• Provide CWS staff and partners with guidance and training on how to go about incorporating protection into the research, design, implementation, and monitoring phases of programs;
• Assist in the establishment of policies for reporting and referral of protection issues identified in the course of work, and
• Provide guidance and support for protection-related program change and protection-related advocacy and coordination efforts.

Protection Mainstreaming Manual and Training

Putting Safety and Dignity First: A Guide to Protective Action in Programming, a CWS protection mainstreaming resource, includes both a  manual and a  training pack.

The manual describes what protection is, who needs it, and the role that NGOs and other actors play in providing it. In order to turn the protection discourse into action, the manual includes Minimum Standards and Indicators for Protection Mainstreaming and step-by-step guidelines on how to work to achieve those standards in programming. It provides four key tools that can be used to 1) identify threats, 2) assess risk, 3) carry out a protection assessment, and 4) identify risk-reduction activities. The manual also includes guidance on protection-related advocacy, and models for internal reporting and referral mechanisms.

The training pack offers 13 activities, with worksheets, role plays and case studies designed to provide an understanding of protection and practical guidance on how to apply the protection framework to programming. It also explores advocacy methods and approaches.

These resources are available in the full download, or separated download options as follows:

 Protection Manual

 Protection Training Pack

 Protection Training Pack - Facilitator's Guide Only

 Protection Training Pack - Participants' Handouts Only

 Faith Basis for Protection

Community-Based Approach to Empowerment and Protection

For a review of existing CWS programs that have had an impact on individuals and communities' safety and dignity, please see  http://www.rsc.ox.ac.uk/PDFs/sessionVIIgroup4jessicaeby.pdf

For more information about the CWS Mainstreaming Protection Project, please contact Jessica Eby at jeby@churchworldservice.org or 202.481.6938