About the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel

In September 2024, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Sierra Leone, Switzerland and the United Kingdom convened with deep concern for the lives and safety of humanitarian workers, and committed to upholding international humanitarian law and driving action to protect humanitarian workers. The group agreed to develop a new global Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel.

The Declaration was drafted following extensive consultation, with a cross-regional group of countries, led by the Ministerial Group, and humanitarian organisations with first-hand experience operating in conflict zones. 

The Declaration commits, at the highest political level, to take action to improve the safety and security of humanitarian personnel. 

It demonstrates the resolve of the international community to protect humanitarian personnel, and channels that commitment into action in all current and future conflicts.

The Declaration sets out practical and actionable steps that countries can take to protect aid workers in conflict zones. 

It is focused on protecting the humanitarian personnel who deliver life-saving assistance including the food, water and medicine civilians need to survive.

The Declaration connects principles to action.  

It sets out concrete measures across four pillars: respect for and adherence to international humanitarian law; safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access; alignment of protections for local, national and international personnel; and accountability and justice in response to incidents. 

What does the Declaration cover?

The Declaration contains practical steps that countries may wish to take in four key areas:

ADHERENCE

Respect for and adherence to international humanitarian law
Globe with a scale

ACCESS

Facilitation of safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access
truck

ALIGNMENT

Alignment of protections for international, national and local workers
Assembling a puzzle together

ACCOUNTABILITY

Increased accountability and justice
Magnifying glass with question mark speech bubbles

The Declaration is an enduring commitment to humanitarian personnel.

The Declaration reinforces UN Security Council Resolution 2730 on the Protection of civilians in armed conflict (May 2024) and related initiatives.

Implementation is supported through a Group of Friends based in Geneva, which is a platform for coordinating advocacy and exchanging good practices amongst members and with the humanitarian sector.