The centrality of protection in the shelter sector

The centrality of protection in humanitarian action asserts that protecting people’s rights must be the driving force behind every humanitarian response. For the shelter sector, this means that shelter interventions must be guided by the imperative to uphold the right to adequate housing, as established in international human rights law.

The right to adequate housing is not merely the provision of a roof over one’s head. It entails a set of core components — including security of tenure, affordability, habitability, accessibility, cultural adequacy, location, and access to basic services — all of which are essential to ensuring human dignity and well-being. Shelter responses that fail to address these elements may inadvertently expose affected populations to protection risks, such as forced evictions, discrimination, exploitation, or secondary displacement.

For more guidance on mainstreaming protection, please click here.