Overview
The 2019 Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, or Child Protection Minimum Standards (CPMS), were developed by members of the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action. They were originally developed in 2012, and were updated in 2019. The CPMS are Sphere companion standards. They were not developed specifically for refugee situationsbut most are applicable to all settings and should guide UNHCR'schild protection emergency response. They complement UNHCR-specific child protection guidance, for example, on Best Interest Procedure (BIP) and the Framework for the Protection of Children, etc.; but they do not address specific issues relating to children in refugee procedures, such as registration, Refugee Status Determination (RSD), or durable solutions.For these procedures, specific UNHCR guidance applies. UNHCR participated in developing the CPMS and is committed to ensuring that they are used for all children of concern during child protection emergency response.

Main guidance
Emergency standard
There are 28 standards in the CPMS, organised in 4 categories (see the diagram below):
- Standards to ensure a quality child protection response.
- Standards on child protection risks.
- Standards to develop adequate child protection strategies.
- Standards to work across sectors.
Each standard includes:
- A ‘statement' of the standard that explains the goal.
- Key actions for preparedness and response that provide a sort of checklist for a quality response.
- Indicators and targets for measurement of the standard.
- Guidance notes to support operationalization of the standard.
- Key resources to provide further information and tools.
In an emergency, UNHCR operations should consider which areas of work in child protection are priorities in the situation, and ensure that the applicable standards are met or on track to being met. The CPMS were developed for emergencies but include preparedness and early recovery, and can also provide guidance in protracted situations.

Links
Main contacts
Contact the Child Protection Unit. At: [email protected].