In view of the deactivation of the Protection Cluster, the Protection Platform was created with two central aims: (1) to ensure the centrality of protection in the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) in Iraq; and (2) to serve as a forum for unified, high-level protection-oriented advocacy interventions at the national level.

The Protection Platform is co-chaired by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Members of the Protection Platform include UN Agencies, international and national NGOs. Protection Platform plenary meetings, organized on bi-monthly basis, are open to all protection actors and donors interested in protection work in Iraq. A core group, including representatives from UNHCR, OHCHR, IOM, UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, UN Women, Danish Refugee Council and the Kurdistan Organization for Human Rights Watch, meets on monthly basis.

Humanitarian protection monitoring systems are systems that are put in place to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals and communities affected by conflict, natural disasters, or other humanitarian crises. These systems can be used to collect and analyze data on incidents of violence, abuse, and other human rights violations, and to identify trends and patterns that can help inform the development and implementation of effective protection interventions.

Protection Monitoring 2.0 was initiated under the protection platform, which aims to provide an accurate and timely analysis of protection issues and trends among various population groups. The system will contribute to an early warning system and inform the Protection Platform on advocacy needs regarding protection issues in Iraq.

The protection monitoring comprehensively encompasses a wide spectrum of population groups, spanning refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced persons (IDPs), IDP returnees, stateless individuals, migrants, and vulnerable non-displaced Iraqis. This inclusivity ensures a holistic and diversified understanding of protection concerns, driving a more informed and impactful approach to addressing the intricate challenges faced by these communities.

> Protection Monitoring Dashboard, the insights gleaned from this dashboard play a pivotal role in guiding the development and implementation of effective protection interventions. Through its thorough analysis, stakeholders can pinpoint critical areas of concern, evaluate the effectiveness of existing initiatives, and make well-informed decisions for future actions. By harnessing the findings and trends unveiled by the dashboard, policymakers, organizations, and stakeholders are empowered to craft targeted strategies and policies that directly address specific protection challenges. The dashboard serves as a centralized nexus, bringing together data from three distinct respondent groups: Households, Key Informants, and Focus Group Discussions. This user-friendly interface transforms complex data into accessible insights, rendering it easily understandable for a diverse range of users. Interactive features empower users to delve into various data dimensions, apply customizable filters, and drill down into specific indicators or geographic regions. This heightened usability enhances the dashboard's utility, empowering users to derive pertinent insights and make well-founded, evidence-based decisions.

The Protection Monitoring report is derived from the dashboard analysis in addition to qualitative analysis of the discussions and open text fields. The report explores a myriad of protection-related facets, encompassing safety, security, access to fundamental rights and essential services (such as education, labor opportunities, healthcare, and social safety net programs), child protection risks, gender-based violence incidents, and the implications of climate change and disasters.