PROTECTION RISKS
Over the world, armed conflict continues to be characterized by high levels of civilian deaths, injury, displacement, psychological trauma and sexual violence. Alongside such widespread protection risks, we also know that particular groups shoulder disproportionate burdens – children living through conflict for instance are at risk of being separated from their families, recruited into armed groups and denied an education. Women and girls are particularly at risk of early / forced marriage and sexual violence. Elderly and persons living with disabilities are often left behind when faced in times of emergencies, underpinned by attitudinal, institutional, physical and communication barriers in the environment.
Protection Clusters active in 31 crisis affected countries describe gender-based violence as being amongst top concerns. Attacks on civilians or infrastructures, forced displacement and abduction/ forced disappearance are occurring in 92% of operations. All operations describe psychological/emotional abuse or inflicted distress amongst the affected populations.
You can find further guidance on the Protection Analytical Framework and the Protection Analysis Updates here.
The Global Protection Cluster (GPC) regularly monitors and tracks 15 protection risks across emergencies crisis.
During the second quarter of 2023
Gender-Based Violence
- Afghanistan
- Cameroon
- DRC
- Mali
- Mozambique
- oPt
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- CAR
- Chad
- Colombia
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Myanmar
- Niger
- Ukraine
- Venezuela
- Burkina Faso
- Ethiopia
- Nigeria
- Pacific
- Yemen
- Philippines
- N/A
The ban on female workers in Afghanistan continues to push more people to resort to negative coping mechanisms, including forced marriage. Cases of femicides (48 registered in the reporting period) and sexual violence increased drastically across Venezuela. This is fueled by economic instability, as well as limited provision of PEP kits in hospitals, and low capacity for inter-state transfers of GBV survivors to access services. The GBVIMS in Somalia indicates a 7% increase in intimate partner and 14% increase in rape. Reporting of cases remains low because of a lack of trust in existing reporting systems. Honduras has the highest rate of femicide in Latin America (its estimated that 90% go unpunished). In June 2023, 84 violent deaths of women were reported (including the horrific case of the 46 women murdered in the penitentiary center on June 20). There is an increase in sexual violence against girls, particularly those linked to armed groups in Colombia. Patriarchal structures and traditions expose women and girls in particular to SGBV, violence and abuse in South Sudan. The ongoing armed conflicts in DR Congo has led to an alarming increase in GBV, involving women and girls being sexually assaulted outside of the IDPs camps while collecting firewood and water. 133 cases of conflict-related sexual violence were confirmed in Ukraine last year, 109 of which occurred in locations under the temporary military control and 24 of which took place in Government of Ukraine controlled territories. Gangs continued to use sexual violence, including collective rape, in Haiti to terrorize and inflict pain on populations. Sexual slavery was reported as being used by gangs.
Unlawful Impediments or Restrictions to Freedom of Movement, Siege and Forced Displacement
- Afghanistan
- oPt
- Ukraine
- Burkina Faso
- CAR
- Cameroon
- Colombia
- DRC
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Mali
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Sudan
- Yemen
- Chad
- Somalia
- Syria
- Ethiopia
- Pacific
- South Sudan
- Philippines
- Venezuela
De facto authorities have started issuing orders to close IDP camps or asking people to return in different locations across Myanmar. The execution of the order remains largely inconsistent. In Rakhine, IDPs have apparently moved following pressure and threats of camp closure, as well as the demolishing of shelters in the current IDP sites. According to the Protection and Returns Monitoring Network in Somalia, 345,000 internal displacements were recorded in May due to the combined effects of floods, drought, and conflict/insecurity, bringing the total number of internal displacements in 2023 to more than 1.25 million. In Colombia, confinement has increased, impeding freedom of movement and denying access to cultivation areas, with has direct effects on food security. In Cameroon, 98% of IDPs wish to return home, but fear a of lack of security. Lack of livelihoods led to repeat displacements and negative coping mechanisms in South Sudan. IDPs in Nigeria are confronted with government camp closures and relocations. Significant movement restrictions imposed by Israel around Jericho, Nablus and Hebron are affecting tens of thousands of Palestinians.
Abduction, Kidnapping, Disappearance, Arbitrary Arrest, Detention
- Nigeria
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Afghanistan
- Burkina Faso
- CAR
- Cameroon
- Haiti
- Mali
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Niger
- oPt
- Somalia
- Syria
- Ukraine
- Chad
- Colombia
- DRC
- Honduras
- Venezuela
- Yemen
- Ethiopia
- Pacific
- Philippines
Niger reported a significant increase of incidents of physical assaults, abductions and murders, which led to inter-communal conflicts that have caused forced displacement of thousands of people. Women and girls in search of livelihoods are increasingly at risk of abduction. Abductions of women and girls who continue to be the targets for non-state armed groups in the northern and central regions of Mali are on the rise. 298 persons were victims of abductions/disappearances in DR Congo in April-May 2023. Abduction, kidnapping, and disappearance are reported as prominent risks in Burkina Faso. The civilian population is constantly at risk of NSAGs abducting/kidnapping and disappearing people in Nigeria.
Attacks on Civilians and other Unlawful Killings, and Attacks on Civilian Objects
- Cameroon
- DRC
- oPt
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Ukraine
- Burkina Faso
- CAR
- Colombia
- Haiti
- Mali
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Somalia
- Afghanistan
- Chad
- Ethiopia
- Honduras
- Syria
- Venezuela
- Yemen
- N/A
- Pacific
- Philippines
Serious concerns over the protection of civilians and violation of IHL/IHRL in Myanmar are stemming primarily from artillery and mortar shelling, air and drone strikes, remote explosives/landmines, security operations, and indiscriminate attacks. Attacks on civilian and civilian infrastructures persist in Oromia (Ethiopia) as the conflict between NSAG and Ethiopia National Defense Force continues. Honduras has experienced an upsurge in violence, with 26 massacres registered between January 1 and June 26, an increase of 13% compared to the previous year, resulting in 145 people killed in these events, including 10 human rights defenders. There was a noticeable escalation of hostilities and armed confrontation causing civilian casualties in Cameroon, with 382 individual incidents reported in the NWSW regions. An attack in Tourou by unidentified armed groups targeted 19 households, resulting in looted property, livestock, and extortion. In South Sudan, competition over scarce resources catalysed inter-community clashes in May. A new trend of attacks against medical infrastructure has been noticed in Niger. Attacks on civilians, including attacks against IDPs camps, continue in DR Congo, with 12,926 incidents reported in April-May 2023, including 220 civilians killed and 1,627 wounded. Another violent attack against an IDP camp was perpetrated in the Lala site in Djugu, resulting in the death of at least 46 people including 23 children and 13 women. 67% of incidents reported in April and 44% of incidents reported in May in Burkina Faso pertained to attacks on civilians and infrastructure. From February 2022 to June 2023, an estimated 4,043 acts of violence targeting civilians have been recorded across Ukraine — rendering Ukraine the deadliest country in the world for violence in 2022. Civilian population is constantly at risk of NSAGs attacks as well as government forces attacking villages during military operations in Nigeria. 33 Palestinian civilian fatalities were recorded in May 2023 during the escalation in Gaza. The number of Palestinian fatalities throughout the oPt in the first five months of 2023 (155 fatalities) is almost three times higher than in the same period in 2022 (54 fatalities).
Presence of Mines and other Explosive Ordnance
- Ukraine
- Afghanistan
- Burkina Faso
- CAR
- Colombia
- Mali
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Nigeria
- oPt
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Yemen
- Cameroon
- DRC
- Niger
- Philippines
- Chad
- Ethiopia
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Pacific
- Venezuela
Of the 3,774 civilian casualties documented in Afghanistan between 15 August 2021 – the day the Taliban returned to power – and 30 May 2023, three quarters were caused by indiscriminate IEDs, mostly suicide bombings, in populated areas, including places of worship, schools, and markets. EORE awareness is essential for all partners and affected people in Myanmar where landmines remain a critical protection concern. The number of IEDs and other explosive objects continues to grow in Burkina Faso. According to the Mine Action AoR, 160,000 square kilometers of land in Ukraine has been exposed to conflict since 2014, placing 21.3 million people at risk of exposure to mines and unexploded ordnance. Nigeria reports very high explosive ordnance contamination and frequent incidents.
Psychological / Emotional Abuse or Inflicted Distress
- Cameroon
- oPt
- South Sudan
- Ukraine
- Afghanistan
- Burkina Faso
- Chad
- Colombia
- DRC
- Mali
- Myanmar
- Niger
- Sudan
- Venezuela
- Yemen
- CAR
- Ethiopia
- Haiti
- Mozambique
- Nigeria
- Somalia
- Syria
- Honduras
- Pacific
- Philippines
- N/A
Fear of attacks on women appearing in the public sphere in Afghanistan has increased psychological distress and desperation. Psychological/emotional abuse or distress across Venezuela is caused mainly by a family member or close friend (93.20%) with less predominance from strangers (33.82%) according to protection monitoring tools. Thousands of IDPs and returnees in Niger remain in psychological distress characterized by high-levels of violence and a lack of access to basic services, including humanitarian assistance. Children across Ukraine have experienced forced displacement, family separation, loss of caregivers, disruption in education and routines and exposure to violence and abuse, resulting in deep stress and trauma. It is estimated that 10 million Ukrainians are at risk of a conflict-related mental health disorder, leading to heightened burden for parents and caregivers as they struggle with livelihoods, meeting basic needs and providing childcare. The severe mental health crisis is exacerbated by the recent escalations in Gaza and spikes in violence across West Bank. Fear for life, loss of loved ones, physical injuries and wide-spread destruction are significantly increasing risk of psychological distress.
Forced Recruitment and Association of Children in Armed Forces and Groups
- Mozambique
- Syria
- CAR
- Chad
- Colombia
- DRC
- Honduras
- Mali
- Myanmar
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
- Afghanistan
- Cameroon
- Haiti
- Nigeria
- South Sudan
- Ukraine
- Venezuela
- Burkina Faso
- Ethiopia
- Niger
- Philippines
- oPt
- Pacific
Forced recruitment and association of children in armed forces and groups is a widespread issue in Northeast Syria. The armed confrontation between NSAGs and the State in Colombia persists, generating cases of displacement, confinement, and forced recruitment, with impacts on indigenous people and communities. In Mozambique, children make up 29% of the victims of protection incidents, which include kidnappings and forced recruitment. Forced recruitment and the use of children by armed groups remains a high risk, with the creation of the new militia Azande Anikpi Gbe in CAR. Child recruitment by gangs has caused many children to flee, abandoning school in Honduras, where the average age of first contact with gangs is 13.
Impediments and/or Restrictions to Access to Legal Identity, Remedies and Justice
- Syria
- Afghanistan
- Cameroon
- Mali
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Niger
- oPt
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Ukraine
- Yemen
- Burkina Faso
- CAR
- Chad
- Colombia
- DRC
- Ethiopia
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Somalia
- Venezuela
- Pacific
- Nigeria
- Philippines
76% of IDPs in Cameroon do not have any civil documentation. The lack of access to civil documentation for residents of territories in Ukraine under the temporary military control of the Russian Federation and IDPs remains a serious concern, primarily with regard to undocumented births and deaths. Inability to access housing, land and property rights have led to profound challenges and displacement for civilians impacted by the conflict. From February 2022 to February 2023, 1.4 million units of housing were reported as either destroyed or damaged.
