Paul White, UN Senior Protection Officer, will examine some of the complexities in relation to how the UN fulfils its international protection responsibilities to internally displaced people through the provision of cash and material assistance. He will discuss what networks can support families with missing relatives, assist victims of rape and other atrocities committed by ISIS and other issues relating to camps, housing, food, health and education.

Paul White is an Australian lawyer who since August 2006 has worked with various UN agencies through the UN interagency Protection Project (PROCAP).  PROCAP deployments are for a maximum of one year.  Senior Protection Officers are assigned to work with UN agencies to build capacity and to provide strategic advice.

Paul has recently returned from a deployment with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Iraq. The role of the UNHCR is to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems world-wide.  Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees.

It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country. In more than six decades, the agency has helped tens of millions of people restart their lives. Today, a staff of some 8,600 people in more than 125 countries continues to help some 33.9 million persons.

Paul will be speaking at The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre on Thursday 9 April about his recent experience.

FREE registration: A humanitarian in the front line:
International protection of people displaced by ISIS in Dohuk, Kurdish Region of Iraq

9 April, 6.00pm
Allan Scott Auditorium, University of South Australia