It is not intended to replace compliance with applicable legal norms, or with data protection rules, policies and procedures that a particular organization may have adopted. Rather, the handbook seeks to raise awareness and assist humanitarian organizations in ensuring that they comply with personal data protection standards when carrying out humanitarian activities, by providing specific guidance on the interpretation of data protection principles for humanitarian action, particularly when new technologies are employed.

During the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in December 2019 a clear call emerged for Data Protection literacy and standards to be disseminated more broadly and effectively within the Movement. In response to this call, a training curriculum has been developed building on the Handbook. The European Centre on Privacy and Cybersecurity (ECPC), Maastricht University Faculty of Law and the Data Protection Office at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC DPO), in cooperation with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Centre for Humanitarian Data, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), offer this training and certification programme specifically designed for Data Protection Officers in Humanitarian Action. This course is made possible with the support of the Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.