This chapter examines how organisational culture, alongside formal policy, influences UNHCR’s approach to protection. Despite strong public rhetoric, internal dynamics often favour silence and career caution over moral courage. Staff who raise sensitive issues risk marginalisation, while those who avoid controversy are more likely to advance. Historical cases from Latin America and other parts of the Americas demonstrate how political caution and denial of persecution undermined core protection principles, with serious consequences. More broadly, protection risks becoming fragmented and symbolic: policies are implemented without sufficient field ownership, reporting requirements are fulfilled superficially, and specialised roles reinforce silos. As UNHCR’s mandate expands, protection is frequently treated as marginal in practice. The chapter contends that genuine centrality requires leadership that fosters ethical advocacy, systems that promote participation, and a culture rooted in inclusion and integrity.