Humanitarian workers are the unsung heroes of armed conflicts and emergencies. They risk their lives to help families, deliver food and essential goods, and offer support and relief to the most vulnerable. Most of the time, they themselves are from the communities they serve. International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is unequivocal – humanitarian workers must be protected. Parties to a conflict have obligations to respect this and to facilitate their crucial work to provide humanitarian assistance. The Red Cross and Red Crescent our staff and volunteers wear are globally recognised symbols of protection, signifying ‘do not shoot’.  

And yet, despite these clear rules, attacks against aid workers are becoming shockingly routine. The year 2024 was the worst on record, and 2025 is on track to be even worse. We have mourned the loss of colleagues from across our Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, in conflicts from Gaza to Ukraine and from Ethiopia to Sudan.  

In addition to physical violence, the work of humanitarian organisations is increasingly undermined by sophisticated harmful information campaigns. These campaigns erode public trust and severely hinder life-saving operations, making it even more dangerous for personnel on the ground.  

This is why this new Declaration is a powerful response to these challenges. It marks a commitment by state Signatories to take concrete steps and practical actions to improve the safety and security of humanitarian workers.

The declaration focuses on four key areas: 

Protecting humanitarian workers is a fundamental prerequisite to protecting civilians. The rules are clear, now is the time for political commitment, and to translate these commitments into tangible action.