Statement: Open letter to the Member States of the UN General Assembly, on behalf of the IASC principals

statement:-open-letter-to-the-member-states-of-the-un-general-assembly,-on-behalf-of-the-iasc-principals

Excellencies,

This World Humanitarian Day, our staff and volunteers around the world will stand in solidarity to spotlight the horrifying toll of armed conflicts on their colleagues and on all civilians, particularly children.

The brutal hostilities we are seeing in multiple conflicts around the world have exposed a terrible truth: We are living in an era of impunity. Attacks that kill or injure civilians, including humanitarian and health-care personnel, are devastatingly common. Yet despite widespread condemnation, serious violations of the rules of war too often go unpunished.

This status quo is shameful and cannot continue.

In 2023, tens of thousands of civilians were killed or injured in armed conflict, with fatalities among humanitarian workers doubling compared to the previous year.

The toll in 2024—the number of deaths, injuries, detentions and kidnappings—is already staggering. The overwhelming majority of recorded attacks on aid workers are inflicted on national staff. Women-led organizations and female humanitarian staff face unique and often increased risks, just because they are women. The impact on the mental health of civilians and humanitarian workers has reached unprecedented levels.

And yet parties to conflict continue to flout laws meant to protect civilians, including humanitarian workers, and civilian objects.

This year, on World Humanitarian Day, we appeal to all States, parties to armed conflict, and the wider international community to:

  1. End attacks on civilians and take active steps to protect them—and the critical civilian infrastructure they rely on.
  2. Protect all aid workers, including local and national actors, and their premises and assets and facilitate their work, as called for in UN Security Council Resolution 2730 adopted this May.
  3. Hold perpetrators to account. Those who commit violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) cannot go unpunished.

We should not have to wait for an annual moment such as World Humanitarian Day to remind all parties to armed conflict, and all States, of their obligations under IHL. Adherence to IHL must happen every day irrespective of occasion. It is non-negotiable and is not subject to exceptions.

It is vital that all parties to armed conflict and all States adhere to their obligations and leverage their influence to ensure respect for the rules of war and minimize human suffering.

Fulfilling these obligations requires more than mere declarations—it demands immediate and decisive actions. Turning a blind eye when humanitarian workers are targeted only emboldens those who seek to hinder their work. This only serves to increase food insecurity, childhood malnutrition, involuntary displacement and the spread of infectious diseases and other threats. The immediate effects of these will not only be limited to areas of conflict but often spread far beyond.

We will continue to stay and deliver in humanitarian crises around the world—but the situation requires us to take a united stand to call for the protection of our staff, volunteers and the civilians we serve.

Signed by:

  1. CARE International
  2. A Chance Again Girl Education Foundation (ACAGEF)
  3. ABAAD-Resource Center for Gender Equality
  4. Abak Peace Foundation
  5. Abs Development Organisation for Woman and Child (ADO)
  6. Access Development and Relief Organization-ADRO
  7. Action Against Hunger
  8. Action Contre la Faim
  9. Action For Humanity
  10. Action for Social and Economic Progress (ASEP)
  11. Action for the needy in Ethiopia (ANE)
  12. Action pour la Protection des Droits de l’Enfant (APDE)
  13. ActionAid
  14. ActionAid International
  15. Active in Development Aid (ADA)
  16. Adamawa Concern Disable Foundation
  17. Adamawa Initiative for Underprivileged Empowerment (ADIFUE)
  18. Adamawa Women Initiative for Leadership and Development (ADWILD)
  19. ADRA Europe
  20. ADRA Lebanon
  21. Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)
  22. Advocacy, Research, Training and Services (ARTS) Foundation
  23. Africa Humanitarian Action (AHA)
  24. African Relief and Development (ARD-African)
  25. Against All Odds Foundation (AGAOF)
  26. Agency for Minority Rights and Development (AMARD)
  27. Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED)
  28. AKKMA National Coalition Pilipinas
  29. Al Mehran Research & Development Foundation (AMRDF)
  30. Al Sham Humanitarian Foundation
  31. Alaman Organization for Blind Women Care (AOBWC)
  32. Alawite Islamic Charity Association (AICA)
  33. Alimat Care Foundation
  34. Alliance of International Doctors (AID)
  35. Ambassadors of Dialogue, Climate and Reintegration (DCR Ambassadors)
  36. AMEL Association International
  37. Americaires
  38. AMURT
  39. Anera
  40. Anglican Missions
  41. Arewa Young Women Graduates Support Initiative (AYW-Grads)
  42. Association Najdeh
  43. Assured Better Life Initiative
  44. ASWHAN Adamawa
  45. Australian Council for International Development
  46. Australian Lutheran World Service
  47. AwazCDS-Pakistan
  48. AWO International (Germany)
  49. Baptist World Aid Australia
  50. Bege House Foundation
  51. Benevolence Coalition for Humanitarian Relief
  52. BINAA Organization for Development
  53. Bioforce Afrique
  54. Blumont
  55. Bondeko Refugee Livelihoods Centre
  56. Bonyan for Youth and Development
  57. Bridge Builders Women and Girls Initiative
  58. Budapest Centre for Dialogue and Mass Atrocities Prevention
  59. Building Blocks for Peace Foundation
  60. Building Foundation for Development (BFD)
  61. CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development
  62. CARE
  63. Caritas Africa
  64. Caritas Australia
  65. Cáritas Española
  66. Caritas Internationalis
  67. Catholic Relief Services Nigeria
  68. CCDRN
  69. CDA Collaborative Learning
  70. CDAC Network
  71. Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)
  72. Center of Concern
  73. Centre d’Appui aux Initiatives de Developpement Local (CAIDEL)
  74. Centre for Community Resource, Health and Social Development (CCRHSD)
  75. Centre for Sustainable Development
  76. CESVI
  77. CHAD INGO Forum
  78. Cheerful Hands Initiative (CHI)
  79. Child & Women International Development
  80. Child Protection and Peer Learning Initiative
  81. ChildFund Alliance
  82. ChildFund International
  83. Childvoice
  84. Christian Aid
  85. Christian Blind Mission Ireland
  86. Christian World Service New Zealand
  87. CHS Alliance
  88. Church World Service
  89. Citizens for Global Solutions (CGS)
  90. Civil Society Coalition for poverty Eradication (CISCOPE)
  91. Community and Family Services International (CFSI)
  92. Community Development and Media Centre
  93. Community Empowerment and Peace-Building Foundation for Women and Youth (CEPFoWY)
  94. Community Empowerment and Social Development Organization (CESDO)
  95. Community Reach out Initiative (CRI) Yola
  96. Community World Service Asia
  97. Concern Worldwide
  98. Confluence Development inn (CODI)
  99. Congo Explorer
  100. Consortium of Youth Associations for the Defense of Victims of Violence (COJEDEV)
  101. Coordination of National NGOs Chad (CONA-T)
  102. Coordination SUD
  103. Cordaid
  104. Council for International Development Aotearoa New Zealand
  105. Dadah Foundation for Educational Empowerment (DAFEE)
  106. DanChurchAid
  107. Danuwa Empowerment Foundation
  108. Daryas Organization for Developing Woman and Society
  109. Dawis Initiative for Sustainability, Community Development (DISCOD)
  110. Debbie Kauna Foundation (Disability Rights)
  111. DEEG-ROOR Medical Organization
  112. Democracy School Yemen (DSYemen)
  113. Development Initiatives
  114. Development Institutions Network Pakistan (DIN)
  115. Developmental Action Without Borders- Nabaa
  116. Dharti Development Foundation
  117. Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe
  118. Dóchas
  119. Dorcas Sisters Foundation
  120. DRC Danish Refugee Council
  121. Dream alive women and orphans support foundation (Dawos foundation)
  122. Dünya Doktorları/Médecins du Monde
  123. Education Cannot Wait
  124. Empowerment for Development
  125. Environmental Protection Society (EPS)
  126. Episcopal Relief & Development
  127. EU-CORD Network
  128. Eunice Spring of Life Foundation (ESLF)
  129. Every Casualty Counts
  130. Farm Radio International
  131. Femenni Development Initiative
  132. Femmes et Développement FEDE
  133. FHI 360
  134. Field Ready-Middle East
  135. Fiji Council of Social Services
  136. Finnish Refugee Council (FRC)
  137. First Step Action for Children Initiative (FSACI)
  138. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
  139. Food for the Hungry
  140. Forum des ONGI en RDC
  141. Freedom Jasmine
  142. Fundamental Human Rights & Rural Development Association FHRRDA
  143. Gargaar Relief and Development Organization (GREDO)
  144. Garib Unnayan Sangstha
  145. GBIHLI Guardians Brotherhood International Humanitarian Leadership Inc.
  146. Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Children Initiative
  147. General Union of Voluntary Societies
  148. German Doctors e.V.
  149. Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
  150. Global Communities
  151. Global Education Emergencies Support Initiative (GEESI)
  152. Global Educational, Economic and Social Empowerment
  153. Global Giving International
  154. Global Mission Partners
  155. Global Support and Development (GSD)
  156. Global Women’s Institute
  157. Global Womens Health Rights and Empowerment Initiative
  158. GOAL
  159. GOAL Global
  160. Grassroot Life Saving Outreach
  161. Grow With Data Youth Foundation (GWD)
  162. HD Foundation
  163. Headwaters Relief Organization
  164. Health And Nutrition Development Society (HANDS) Pakistan
  165. Heifer International
  166. Hellen Keller International
  167. HelpAge Canada
  168. HelpAge International
  169. Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe
  170. Helvetas
  171. HIAS
  172. Hidig Relief & Development Organization
  173. Himaya Daeem Aataa
  174. Hope and Rural Aid Foundation (HARAF)
  175. Hope Revival Organization
  176. Hope Rising for the Less Privileged and Vulnerable Foundation
  177. Hopeful Women Initiative
  178. Horan Foundation – HF
  179. Horn of Africa Peace Network (HAPEN)
  180. HUJRA Village Support Organization
  181. Human Organization for Peaceful Environment (HOPE)
  182. Humanity & Inclusion—Handicap International
  183. Humanity Forum Indonesia
  184. Hwa Foundation Sindh Pakistan
  185. iACT
  186. IHE Delft
  187. IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation
  188. Ihsan Relief and Development
  189. Iimaan Relief and Development Organization
  190. Imam Sadr Foundation
  191. Independent Public Health Consultant
  192. Indus Environment Development Organization (IEDO)
  193. Initiative Africaine pour le Développement Durable
  194. Initiative For Women’s Health Development and Rights Protection Nigeria
  195. Innovative Humanitarian solution (IHS)
  196. Institute for Promotion of Civil Society (IPCS)
  197. Integrated Regional Support Program
  198. Integrated Social Services Program (ISSP)
  199. InterAction
  200. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
  201. International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)
  202. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
  203. International Medical Corps
  204. International Organization for Migration (IOM)
  205. International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)
  206. International Rescue Committee
  207. INTERSOS
  208. IRADO
  209. Islamic Relief
  210. Islamic Relief Deutschland e.V.
  211. Islamic Relief USA
  212. Jabu Development Foundation JDF
  213. Jaggarta Organization
  214. Jami Al Hakeem Foundation (J-HF)
  215. Jen initiative for Integrity and Development
  216. Jesuit Refugee Service
  217. JHPiego
  218. Johanniter International Assistance
  219. Jordan Health Aid Society International
  220. Kanzul Masakin Islamic Foundation
  221. LASOONA Relief & Development Organization
  222. Lembaga Daya Dharma Keuskupan Agung Jakarta
  223. LIFE
  224. Life Helpers Initiative (LHI)
  225. Life Makers Meeting Place Organization (LMMPO)
  226. LM International/Läkarmissionen
  227. Lotus Kenya Action for Development Organization
  228. LSPR Centre for Crisis and Resilience
  229. Lutheran World Federation
  230. Management Sciences for Health
  231. Mandhere Relief and Development Organisation
  232. Marginalized Communities Advocacy Network (MCAN)
  233. Mariam Ladi Yunusa Foundation
  234. Matasa 360 initiative for social justice and development
  235. Medair
  236. Médecins du Monde International Network
  237. Medecins du Monde Network
  238. Medecins sans Frontieres – Western and Central Africa (MSF – WaCA )
  239. MedGlobal
  240. MedGlobal-Yemen
  241. Medical Teams International
  242. Mercy Corps
  243. MERCY Malaysia
  244. Mercy-USA for Aid and Development
  245. Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies
  246. Morning Star Foundation (MSF)
  247. Muslim Hands
  248. Muzaffarabad Poverty Alleviation Programme
  249. Muzun for Humanitarian and Development
  250. Nahda Makers Organization (NMO)
  251. Nak Akphivath Sahakum
  252. Nana Maren Association for Charity and Awareness
  253. National Disaster Management Network of Nepal (DiMaNN)
  254. National initiative for social advocacy (Nisafoundation)
  255. NEAR (Network for Empowered Aid Response)
  256. Never Again International – Canada
  257. New Followership New Africa Initiative
  258. New Ways Organisation
  259. NGORC
  260. Nigerian Aid Group of Islam NAG-JNI
  261. Nkafamiya Rescue Mission
  262. No Borders Humanity Organization (NBH)
  263. Nonviolent Peaceforce
  264. Northwest Syria NGO Forum
  265. Norwegian Peoples Aid
  266. Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
  267. Now Bahar Rehabilitation Organization
  268. Olive Branch Organisation
  269. ONG-ASHAD
  270. Oxfam
  271. Oxfam America
  272. Oxfam International
  273. PACIDA
  274. Pak Education Society/Pakistan Development Network
  275. Pak Mission Society (PMS)
  276. Pampam development initiative
  277. Pattan Development Organisation
  278. PAX
  279. Peace Foundation Pakistan
  280. People for Successful Corean Reunification (PSCORE)
  281. People in Need
  282. Permanent Peace Movement
  283. Petuniya children youth and women initiative
  284. Physicians for Peace
  285. Plan International
  286. Plan International Ireland
  287. Plan International Nigeria
  288. Plant with Purpose
  289. Population Communication
  290. Prattasha Samazik Unnayan Sangstha (PSUS)
  291. Premiere Urgence Internationale
  292. Project HOPE
  293. Project HOPE: The People-to-People Health Foundation Inc.
  294. Protect Humanitarians
  295. Rahma Worldwide
  296. Reformist’s Social Welfare and Development Organization WORDS
  297. Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK)
  298. Refugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table (R-SEAT)
  299. Regional Advocacy for Women ‘s Sustainable Advancement
  300. Regional Advocacy for Women’s Sustainable Advancement Alliance for African and Arab States
  301. Relief International
  302. Resolve To Save Lives (RTSL)
  303. Restoration of Hope Initiative (ROHI)
  304. Road to Economic Development Organisation
  305. Roshni Development Foundation
  306. ROWYOD
  307. Rural Agency for Community Development and Assistance (RACIDA)
  308. Rural Agricultural Transformation and Empowerment Initiative
  309. Rural Education and Agriculture Development Organization READO
  310. Rural Education and Economic Development Society
  311. Rural Outreach Africa
  312. Ruwad alHoukouk FR (Frontiers Rights)
  313. Sahara Economic Development Organization
  314. Saibaan Pakistan
  315. Salam Humanitarian Foundation (SHF)
  316. Salient humanitarian organizations
  317. Samir Aldarabi
  318. Save the Children
  319. Scalabrini International Migration Network – SIMN
  320. Search for Common Ground
  321. Secours Islamique
  322. Sened organization
  323. Service Chretien d’Haiti
  324. SEWAR organization
  325. SHAFAK
  326. Shahbaz welfare association
  327. SHIFA Welfare Association-SHIFA
  328. SIF – Secours Islamique France
  329. Siiqqee Women’s Development Association
  330. Syrian Local NGO Platform (NES)
  331. Smart lives Initiative
  332. Smiling Hearts Initiatives International (SHI)
  333. Social Development International (SDI)
  334. Society for Empowering Human Resource (SEHER)
  335. Solidarités International
  336. Solution for Humanity (SFH)
  337. Somali NGO Consortium (SNC)
  338. Somali Relief Centre
  339. Sorasun Foundation
  340. SOS Children’s Villages, Nigeria
  341. South Sudan NGO Forum
  342. Space Of Peace
  343. Sphere
  344. Spring of Hope Global Initiative
  345. SSEWA-Pak
  346. Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR)
  347. Step Organisation for Democracy and Election
  348. Stichting Vluchteling
  349. Sukh Development Foundation
  350. Sustainable Development Foundation
  351. Synergie des ONG Nationales pour les actions Humanitaires au Niger. (SONAH)
  352. Syria Relief & Development (SRD)
  353. Syrian American Medical Society
  354. Syrian Expatriates Medical Association
  355. Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR)
  356. Tabitha for Relief and Development
  357. Takaful Al Sham Charity (TAS)
  358. Tamkeen Foundation for Development
  359. Tarjimly
  360. Tearfund
  361. Télécoms Sans Frontières
  362. Terre des hommes (Tdh) Helping children worldwide
  363. The Amazon Healing for Women and Children Empowerment Initiative
  364. The Lebanon Humanitarian & Development NGOs Forum (LHDF)
  365. The Nigeria INGO Forum
  366. The Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation
  367. The White Helmets
  368. The Yemeni Coalition for Monitoring Human Rights Violations – Rasd Coalition
  369. Today For Tomorrow Initiative (TFT)
  370. Trócaire
  371. UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
  372. Unique Care and Support Foundation (CASFOD)
  373. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
  374. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  375. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
  376. United Nations Foundation
  377. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
  378. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
  379. United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat)
  380. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
  381. United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
  382. United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons
  383. United Nations Youth Office
  384. UNOPS
  385. VENRO – Association of German Development and Humanitarian Aid NGOs
  386. Violet for Aid and Development
  387. VOICE
  388. Voluntary Service Overseas
  389. Volunteers for Emergency and Disaster Rescue Initiative VEDRI, Numan
  390. Volunteers for Sustainable Development
  391. Wahatana Empowerment Initiative
  392. Wajir South Development Association (WASDA)
  393. War Child Alliance
  394. WATAN
  395. Water for South Sudan
  396. Watoto Walanga  Project
  397. Wecare Foundation Sujawal
  398. Welthungerhilfe (WHH)
  399. Welthungerhilfe Country Office Zimbabwe
  400. Will Association
  401. Women Economic Emancipation Initiative
  402. Women for Women International
  403. Women’s Refugee Commission
  404. World Bank
  405. World Food Programme (WFP)
  406. World Health Organization (WHO)
  407. World Vision International
  408. Yemen Family Care Association (YFCA)
  409. Yetim Vakfı (Orphan Foundation)
  410. Yola Renewal Foundation
  411. Youth Front Pakistan
  412. Zamzam Foundation
  413. Zwala Foundation

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