Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response The right to life with dignity The Sphere Project is an initiative to determine and promote standards by which the global community responds to the plight of people affected by disasters.

With this Handbook, Sphere is working for a world in which the right of all people affected by disasters to re-establish their lives and livelihoods is recognised and acted upon in ways that respect their voice and promote their dignity and security.

This Handbook contains:

A Humanitarian Charter: legal and moral principles whichreflect the rights of disaster-affected populations
Protection Principles
Core Standards and minimum standards in four key life-saving humanitarian sectors: Water supply, sanitation and hygiene promotion; Food security and nutrition; Shelter, settlement and non-food items; Health action. They describe what needs to be achieved in a humanitarian response in order for disaster-affected populations to survive and recover in stable conditions and with dignity.