Open Letter to the Member States of the UN General Assembly, on behalf of the IASC Principals

Published Date

Signed by 413 humanitarian organizations around the world who are calling for the protection of civilians, including their staff

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. Americares 
  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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