National Summit on International Humanitarian Law in the Philipppines | 39 directly in orderto achieve the desired standardsof 3.) Humanitarian protection is protection from protection and achieve the multiple protective the restriction of movements or access system. This can be achieved throughthefollowing: particularly onthelivelihood sources.As often observed by OXFAM, the incidents happened 1. Advocacy Campaign - Persuade those who are due to coercion andfear. responsible to keep their obligations; 2. 3. Support the responsible bodies so they can The Responseto the Call for Action perform their responsibility; and Noted was, the intensification ofthe armedconflict Partner with other organizations, primarily in Mindanaostarted in August 2008. A total of with local population or communities who are 438,000 personsweredisplaced in Mindanao. The heavily affected by other disaster in order to displacement covered the Sulu archipelago, access the protective system themselves. affecting 88,000 families. The most recent response of OXFAM in Mindanao has been OXFAM has been working in behalf of the focused on therightto life and dignity of IDPs and Philippine NGO network, a huge coalition of protect them through life saving and humanitarian international NGOs whoarerenderingservicesin assistance. This is specifically addressed by those conducting advocaciesto protectcivilians who are whoarelegally mandatedto deliverassistancelike caught in armed conflict or in the cycles of the government agencies, UN agencies and also disasters. organizations like international NGOs. OXFAM assists also in protecting impartial States by Also, OXFAM is workingin cooperation with local delivering humanitarianassistance.It is lobbying organizations -- the Mindanao Peace, Mindanao for the enactmentof IHL and IDPBills. People’s Caucus and Mindanao Anti-Ceasefire. Likewise, OXFAM is working closely with CSI- As one majoractivity, the Evacuation Part-time IHL, andthe Parish of Pikit, governmentoffices Management Committee is organizing the IDPs, like the Department of Social Welfare and or simply the Empowermentof IDPs,so that they Developmentand the Departmentof Health, and can represent themselves and have a voice and with bodies or IAC Standing Committees. access to service providersdirectly. Protection of Internally Displaced Persons Concluding Statement OXFAM’s protection activities for the IDPs are It is importantto note that sometimes emergency focused on thefollowing: responses are too short and humanitarian protection really requires a lot of time. 1.) Personal violence, which includes not only Contingency plans needto include protection. It those who have been caughtin the cross-fire needsdirection during armedconflict situation.It but also those who are emotionally wounded is important that someone from the committee whoneedsocial intervention; itself should be presentto be able to address the 2.) Protection of civilians from deprivation, problemsand concernsof the IDPs. Humanitarian impoverishment, disposition, destitution, advocacy mustserve notjust to follow change but disease and exhaustion; it must serveto savelives of the IDPs.