The Protection and Human Rights Program of the Community Development and Humanitarian Network (CoDHNet) works to safeguard the dignity, safety, and fundamental rights of vulnerable individuals and communities affected by conflict, displacement, poverty, and disasters.
Operating in Somalia and Kenya, CoDHNet promotes inclusive protection systems that empower communities, prevent abuse, and ensure that the rights of women, children, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups are respected and upheld.
Our approach integrates humanitarian protection principles with community-based mechanisms to reduce risks, respond to protection concerns, and strengthen local capacity to prevent violence and exploitation.
To ensure that vulnerable populations live in safe environments where their human rights are protected, respected, and fulfilled, and where communities have the capacity to prevent and respond to protection risks.
Key Objectives
- Strengthen community protection systems and promote human rights awareness.
- Prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) and exploitation.
- Protect children and youth from abuse, neglect, and harmful practices.
- Promote social inclusion for marginalized and at-risk groups.
- Improve access to legal aid and protection services for vulnerable populations.
- Advocate for policies and practices that promote human rights and social justice.
- Core Program Components
Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention and Response
CoDHNet implements programs that protect women and girls from violence and support survivors through community awareness, referral pathways, and access to services.
Key interventions include:
- Community awareness campaigns on GBV prevention
- Safe spaces for women and girls
- Survivor-centered support and referrals
- Capacity building for community protection committees
- Engaging men and boys in preventing violence
Child Protection
Children in humanitarian settings face heightened risks including exploitation, forced labor, early marriage, and recruitment by armed groups. CoDHNet works with communities and institutions to ensure children are protected and supported.
Key activities include:
- Establishing Child Friendly Spaces
- Child protection case management and referrals
- Awareness campaigns on child rights
- Prevention of child labor and early marriage
- Psychosocial support for vulnerable children
Community-Based Protection
Community-based protection strengthens the ability of communities to identify and address protection risks themselves.
Key interventions include:
- Establishment of community protection committees
- Training community leaders on human rights
- Protection risk assessments
- Community dialogue and conflict resolution initiatives
- Support for displaced and marginalized populations
Human Rights Awareness and Advocacy
CoDHNet promotes respect for human rights through education, advocacy, and partnerships with civil society organizations and local authorities.
Activities include:
- Human rights awareness campaigns
- Civic education and legal literacy programs
- Advocacy for vulnerable populations
- Support to local governance and accountability mechanisms
Target Groups
Our protection interventions prioritize the most vulnerable groups, including:
- Women and girls at risk of violence
- Children affected by conflict and displacement
- Internally displaced persons (IDPs)
- Refugees and returnees
- Persons with disabilities
- Minority and marginalized communities
- Survivors of abuse and exploitation
Our Approach
CoDHNet implements protection programming through:
- Community participation – engaging local leaders and community members
- Do No Harm principles – ensuring interventions do not increase risks
- Survivor-centered approaches – prioritizing the safety and dignity of survivors
- Partnerships – working with NGOs, government agencies, and protection clusters
- Localization – strengthening the role of local organizations and communities
Expected Impact
Through the Protection and Human Rights Program, CoDHNet aims to achieve:
- Safer communities with reduced protection risks
- Increased awareness of human rights and legal protections
- Improved access to protection and support services
- Stronger community mechanisms to prevent violence and exploitation
- Enhanced dignity and resilience among vulnerable populations
Commitment to Human Dignity
CoDHNet is committed to ensuring that every individual—regardless of gender, age, ability, or background—lives free from violence, discrimination, and exploitation. Our protection work places human dignity, justice, and equality at the center of humanitarian action.
GBV Coordination
Community Development and Humanitarian Network (CoDHNet)is the member of GBV Working Group. With this, CoDHNet is mandated to participate, contribute and share anupdated information through monthly GBV meeting as well as to bring all the stake holders together including the community elders, other local organizations and the IMAMs to discuss how protection violation cases manifest themselves in society, the effects of these violations to the family members and more so the victims, possible resolution mechanisms and strategies; and the way forward for the community in dealing with the various protection violations in the communities.
