Centering Refugee Voices: The Fragility and Power of Protection

"Do not speak on my behalf. Let me be there and tell you how protection looks like..." -  Ana Maria Diez What would protection in humanitarian work truly look like if leaders prioritized the voices and lived experiences of displaced people? In today's conversation, Ana María Diez—lawyer, refugee, and president of Coalición por Venezuela—joins host Panos Moumtzis to discuss the meaning and challenges of protection for displaced people.  Drawing from her own harrowing experiences in Venezuela and her journey into advocacy, Ana María Diez reflects on what true protection, courage, and participation mean for refugees and humanitarian work today.  The dialogue delves into humanitarian failures, the fragility of protection, the need for innovation, and why genuine participation and inclusion of refugees in decision-making are non-negotiable. Key Takeaways Protection is Foundational All discussions around solutions for displaced people must begin with protection—it is the cornerstone of dignity and rights. Lived Experience Shapes Leadership Firsthand experience of displacement brings an irreplaceable perspective to advocacy and solution-building. Courage is present in every person with lived experience. Drawing on these personal reserves can lead to greater strength and more effective advocacy. Fragility of Systems Humanitarian systems and protections are much more vulnerable than they appear; a crisis or funding cut can instantly erase hard-won gains. Meaningful Participation Including refugees and displaced persons in decision-making is not optional; it is a right and vital to finding sustainable solutions. Addressing risks and building solutions demands collaboration, openness, innovation, and a recommitment to bringing human faces back to policymaking and grantmaking. Timestamps (00:00) Ana María Diez shares her personal experience as a protection officer and survivor of kidnapping in Venezuela. (03:13) Protection as the foundation for all humanitarian efforts, especially integration. (05:10) Fleeing Venezuela: Ana María’s personal journey to Spain for safety. (08:58) Ana María Diez on the so-called "humanitarian reset" as a failure of protection. (10:17) The right to participation for refugees and forcibly displaced persons. (12:53) Reflections on courage and advice for advocates facing protection challenges. (15:48) Ana María’s vision for a free Venezuela. (18:57) Shifting from exclusion to meaningful participation within the Quito Process. (22:10) The risks of humanitarian withdrawal and the ongoing needs of grassroots organizations. (27:01) Innovations in humanitarian work: localization, leveraging preexisting capacities, and inclusion. (29:49) Non-negotiables in protection: always center the voices and experiences of those affected. Guest Bio: Ana María Diez   Ana María Diez is a Venezuelan lawyer, refugee, and tireless advocate for the rights of displaced people. She is co-founder and president of Coalición por Venezuela, the largest network of Venezuelan civil society organizations, working across 23 countries to respond to migration and displacement crises. A former humanitarian protection officer, Ana María Diez, brings the lived experience of forced displacement to her leadership in legislative advocacy and global forums, including her participation in advisory bodies to UNHCR. Discover more about Ana María Diez   Coalición por Venezuela If you enjoyed this episode of Protection Leadership, please subscribe, share, and leave a review. For more practical insights and real-world conversations that put protection at the heart of humanitarian action, visit geli.org.