crisis - any event or period that will lead to an unstable and dangerous situation affecting an

individual, group, or all of society. Crises are negative changes in the human or environmental
affairs, especially when they occur abruptly, with little or no warning. More loosely, a crisis is a
testing time for an emergency.

Humanitarian crises almost invariably result in immense human suffering, threats and violations of
international human rights and humanitarian law. Pre-existing protection concerns may trigger a crisis or
exacerbate the situation and its impact on affected populations. International law provides a robust
framework for protecting the human rights of populations adversely affected by armed conflicts,
situations of violence and insecurity, including natural and man-made disasters. 2 International law
underscores the primary responsibility of states to guarantee protection, provides for the responsibility
of non-state armed groups in situations of armed conflicts, protects human rights, facilitates
humanitarian assistance and promotes durable solutions including through access to effective remedies
for international human rights and humanitarian law violations. While international law aims at
protecting the security and well-being of all persons, it accords distinct protection to certain affected
categories, including women, children, the civilian population and internally displaced persons.