In crises, accurate information is vital for people to stay safe, connect with loved ones and decide on the way forward. However, denial of access to misinformation, as well as proliferation of mis- and disinformation, can increase people’s exposure to myriad protection risks and cause significant harm. Communities affected by crisis need access to reliable, safe, trusted and accurate information in order to protect themselves. Local actors, including civil society and local media, play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy information ecosystem within with crisis-affected communities live. Localized protection analysis of the information ecosystem must lead to tailored interventions that target the specific information-related risks and threats that face civilians in any given context.

This session will explore the experience of a range of local actors in working at the nexus of information and protection. Examples of information related protection risks and mitigating measure will be shared, for example, how misinformation leads to exploitation for displaced people, the use of innovative mapping to support safe civilian movement and how people use humanitarian information services to keep themselves safe. The session will also identify ways that the global humanitarian community can better support and coordinate with such actors as part of a broader strategy to reach protection outcomes.