Protection is at the heart of the responsibility that the international community bears towards refugees. Refugees as a group are doubly disadvantaged and thus vulnerable to actions that threaten their protection. First, refugees are victims or potential victims of human rights abuses, conflicts and other acts of aggression. Second, they are outside of their own countries and unable or unwilling to afford themselves of the protection that their own governments should provide. International protection entails taking all necessary measures to ensure that refugees are adequately protected and effectively benefit from their rights.