Protection and safeguarding are part of responsible humanitarian work. This hub brings together practical guidance on sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, trafficking, gender-based violence, child protection, child marriage, PSEA and how to respond safely when someone discloses harm.
Humanitarian settings can increase the risk of abuse because people may be displaced, separated from family, dependent on aid, without documentation, living in unsafe shelter, moving through checkpoints, coping with food insecurity or dealing with armed actors, traffickers and local power structures.
The purpose of this section is not to investigate allegations or publish stories. It is to help people recognise risk, act with care, use the right reporting and referral routes, and avoid causing further harm.
Core principles
Do no harm
Do not take actions that increase risk to the survivor, witnesses, family members, local colleagues or the wider community.
Survivor-centred
Respect the person’s safety, dignity, wishes and choices wherever possible, while following safeguarding and child protection duties.
Confidential and careful
Share information only through the correct channel and only with people who need to know under the applicable protocol.
Do not investigate alone
Non-specialists should not interrogate, collect evidence, confront alleged perpetrators or seek extra details.
Follow the briefing
Listen to security, protection, safeguarding, GBV, child protection, medical and local partner briefings, and follow instructions closely.
Use referral pathways
Know where to refer people for health care, psychosocial support, safe shelter, legal support and protection case management.
Protection and safeguarding topic pages
Open guide
Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Trafficking in Humanitarian Contexts
A comprehensive guide to exploitation, rape, coercion, survival sex, forced prostitution, trafficking, referral pathways and safe response.
Open →Open guide
Gender-Based Violence in Humanitarian Settings
How GBV risk appears in crises, who may be affected, what non-specialists should and should not do, and how to reduce risk across programmes.
Open →Open guide
Child Protection and Child Marriage in Humanitarian Contexts
Child marriage, child sexual abuse, separated children, exploitation, safeguarding duties and safe referral routes.
Open →Open guide
Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
PSEA principles, reporting duties, power imbalance, aid-for-sex risks, organisational responsibility and community reporting routes.
Open →Open guide
Responding to a Disclosure
Practical first steps when someone tells you about abuse, exploitation, trafficking or sexual violence.
Open →What to do before field work
- Read your organisation’s safeguarding, PSEA, child protection, GBV and whistleblowing policies before travel.
- Identify the safeguarding focal point, protection focal point, security focal point, medical focal point and line manager for the location.
- Ask for the local referral pathway before you need it. Know the trusted health, psychosocial, legal and protection services.
- Understand mandatory reporting rules, especially for children, serious harm and immediate risk.
- Never promise absolute confidentiality. Explain that you may need to involve the right safeguarding or protection person if someone is at risk.
- Know how to report concerns safely if the usual channel is compromised.
Language and imagery standards
Public content should avoid shock language, graphic detail, sexualised imagery and identifiable survivor stories. Use neutral, respectful wording such as “survivor”, “person affected by exploitation”, “child at risk of marriage”, “person exploited through prostitution or trafficking” and “people coerced through survival sex or abuse of power”.
Do not assume that every adult in commercial sex is trafficked. Focus on age, coercion, fraud, debt, threats, restricted movement, abuse of power, inability to refuse, inability to leave, confiscated documents and immediate safety.
Source guidance and further reading
Use local referral pathways, mission briefings and trained protection, safeguarding, GBV, child protection, medical and security focal points before relying on any general online guidance. These external sources are included for context and should be adapted to the setting.
- IASC GBV GuidelinesGuidelines for integrating GBV risk reduction across humanitarian action.
- GBV Pocket GuideBasic support and information for survivors when no GBV actor is available.
- UN Victims’ Rights / PSEAUN material on prevention and response to sexual exploitation and abuse.
- UNICEF Child MarriageChild marriage information and child protection framing.
Questions people often ask
Where should this section sit on AidWorkers.com?
It should sit under Resources as a permanent Protection and Safeguarding hub because the topic is evergreen, practical and cross-cutting.
Should this be treated as news?
No. News can link to the section, but the main guidance should remain evergreen and carefully maintained.
Can non-specialists use this guidance?
Yes, but only to understand safe first response and referral. Non-specialists should not investigate or provide clinical, legal or case management services.