Inaugural Meeting of Signatories to the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel

Can I welcome everyone to this meeting and ask you to take your seats, please. So, Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, Delegates, humanitarians, and friends, can I welcome you all and say it is such a great honour for me to be able, with Aiman, to open this inaugural meeting of signatory states to the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel. And I want to thank first my dear friend and colleague, His Excellency Aiman Safadi, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs for Jordan, for co-chairing today's proceedings. And I'm joined here by Tom Fletcher, by Mirjana Spoljaric, by Jagan Chappagai, and can I, on your behalf, thank them and all of the people that they work with for all the work they do in the world for the betterment and protection of humanity. For those who have not yet signed the declaration book, there will be an opportunity to do so at the well of the chamber at the conclusion of the event. So, colleagues, one year ago we came together because more and more humanitarian workers were being killed, were being injured or deliberately targeted. Targeted whilst delivering life-saving assistance amid conflict and amid instability, dependent on rules of war to ensure their safety. Rules that we built, that all our countries built to protect our shared humanity. Rules that apply to all, but rules that continue to be broken. Over 1,000 humanitarian workers have been killed in the last three years, 350 in 2025 alone. And we know it is up to us all to act. In the ruins of the last world war, nations who had every reason to distrust each other agreed that there are limits. Even in war, there are things that should not be done, that should never be done. And the Geneva Conventions are, I believe, among humanity's greatest achievements, built out of the ruins of one of humanity's darkest moments, a recognition that innocent civilians do not choose to lose their homes, their safety, or the people that they love, that civilians must be shielded from the worst consequences of conflict, and that humanitarian workers, those who rush towards suffering, must be protected. And remembering why the Geneva Conventions were established helps drive our collective action now. A year ago, we came together to recommit ourselves to defending these rules and to protect those who risk their lives to help others. And today, together, we launched the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel. And can I thank personally my ministerial group colleagues from Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Sierra Leone, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. And can I also acknowledge today my Pacific colleagues who are here with us from Samoa, Fiji, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands, and Solomon Islands. At a time where it might be easy to believe that international humanitarian law is diminished, 130 of us 130 nations have said otherwise. More than two-thirds of the United Nations have chosen to defend the rules that protect us all. We know the declaration is not the end point. The declaration's objective is to preserve adherence to crucial aspects of international humanitarian law that protect humanitarian personnel. laying out concrete measures to keep aid workers safe and putting international pressure on countries that fail to meet their obligations. In the years since it was launched, Australia has been working hard to translate commitment into action. We are financing global incident tracking, verification and evidence to ensure transparency when attacks occur. We are supporting security training for aid workers so they can protect themselves as best as possible in conflict zones, practical, life-saving training. We are expanding legal assistance for victims and families, supporting the pursuit of justice, and we will continue this work with you, building on the global momentum of the Declaration. We will provide $10 million in additional funding to strengthen practical protection and accountability measures for frontline aid workers, and we continue to increase our humanitarian assistance with an annual commitment of over half a billion dollars. We are developing operational standards on the protection of humanitarian personnel to support military and civilian actors, and we are working with partners to address the risks posed by misinformation and disinformation to humanitarian operations. On your desks, you should have a publication with actions by signatories from all over the world to implement the declaration over the last year and ideas for what to do next. But we know the work is far from done and we know that threats remain. In Myanmar and Ukraine, emerging technologies like drones are being turned on civilians. In Sudan, armed groups are besieging communities and are attacking the aid meant to reach them. And in Gaza, it remains the deadliest place in the world to be an aid worker, despite the ceasefire. Australia remembers the death of ZOMIFRANCOM. and her six World Central Kitchen colleagues killed by an IDF strike in 2024, and we will not stop. I will not stop pressing for transparency, accountability and justice for the Francome family. Friends, no humanitarian worker should ever be a target. So I ask countries here today, let us all ask ourselves this question, what more can we do to help drive practical action and protect those who serve humanity? and I look forward to exchanging views and driving this forward. So thank you very much for your attendance. And if I can now invite my co-chair to deliver his opening remarks?

Thank you so much, Your Excellency, dear Penny. Thank you for your leadership, for your commitment that has done tremendous work that has led to that number of signatories to the declaration. And I'm also grateful to all our partners at the initiative who've done tremendous work to make sure that we we move forward. Dear colleagues, this is an issue that cannot be controversial. Protecting humanitarian personnel is a must, it's a duty, because what humanitarian personnel do is that they risk their lives in support of people who need help, acting on our collective values, doing the job that we all want them to do. So 130 countries have signed the declaration so far. This is an issue in which the world should stand united. No humanitarian worker should be subject to threat or to danger as they do their job, their human job there, as they sacrifice their lives to save the lives of others. So thank you all for joining. I thank the new signatories. And I think we all should work to make sure that everybody makes that commitment to our humanity, to our human values. The last years have not been easy. The last three years in Gaza alone, more than 500 humanitarian workers were killed, of whom over 300 were UN personnel. The majority are from UNRWA, which continues to work against all odds, not just impossible conditions of the ground, but also an effort to undermine the agency and its noble mission. We are making a commitment, but that commitment must lead to action. You said, Penny, there should be no limits. There should be limits to war. But also, there should be limits to silence. There should be limits to inaction. We have to act in support of humanitarian workers. We have to create the environment in which they can do their job without fearing for their lives. Against all odds, against all danger, humanitarian workers are not running away from their responsibility. They're running forward, demanding access, demanding entry into areas of conflict so that they can help those in need, can help children, can help women, can help the wounded. Gaza is a case in point. I spoke of UNRWA, which on the ground continues to operate. other UN agencies are still on the ground demanding access, demanding that aid that is expiring on shelves is allowed into children who need it. We can have all the aid that people need, but if there is no access, it's not going to get to the people who are in need of it. And if you have no humanitarian workers, we will not be able to address the needs of those people. So We are embarking on a really important, necessary mission that is in compliance with our commitments under international law, under international humanitarian law, that is acting out on our collective human values, that is delivering in areas where people are most in need. I cannot speak about the need to support and protect humanitarian workers without emphasizing that what is continuing to happen in Gaza is challenging our own humanity. One year into the ceasefire, people are still suffering. Food is not getting to those who need it. Mothers are watching their kids fade away under their own eyes. Hospitals are not working. Two million people are cornered in 30% of Gaza with no access to any of the requirements of a dignified life. And that's happening because one country is saying, no, you cannot rebuild, you cannot allow aid, you cannot allow humanitarian workers to do their job. We cannot remain silent against that. And we cannot remain silent against other conditions in which people are suffering because countries are not committed to international law and to international humanitarian law. So I thank you all again for that commitment. I look forward to working with you all to make sure that we translate this commitment into action. And the first action that needs to come out is to speak out against violators of international humanitarian law, to call out violations, to call out those who are subjecting the lives of humanitarians work lives to to danger to call out everybody who's violating regardless of power politics regardless of of of the balance of power we need to act and we need to act now and I have to say Gaza and the West Bank are places in which we need to move very quickly before we find ourselves once again facing a catastrophe that that shame all of us thank you so much.

Thank you, Minister Safadi, for your remarks, and thank you for your personal leadership and Jordan's steadfast support in the championing of the declaration and its implementation, which is very appreciated. I'm very honoured now to invite Tom Fletcher, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, to offer remarks on behalf of the Secretary-General.

Well, thank you. Thank you, Penny. Thank you, friends. Thank you, Aiman and colleagues, for bringing this group together and to the ministerial group as well for your leadership. So you came together a year ago on the lawn outside to make this powerful commitment to protect our colleagues and to protect the law, which is there and meant to be there to protect us. And today, it's extraordinary that 130 Members have already signed this declaration, a powerful show of common purpose, but also a powerful challenge to those who have chosen not yet to sign this declaration. The test, of course, now is whether what we wrote, what you wrote, becomes genuine protection. Among us are heroes of the humanitarian movement, and they are here, Moussa, Christian, Mama Noor, Sami, to represent the thousands of our colleagues who cannot be here but who are right now running the risks on behalf of all of us to save lives. And that group know far better than any of us that the credibility of this declaration will be decided far from this room. Their presence is the most eloquent statement possible for why this declaration matters. It matters when we are distributing food and water, when we are caring for women and children, when we're on the checkpoints, when we are in the torture chambers, when we are under fire. So the test is brutally simple. Are humanitarian workers safer tomorrow because of what we in this room commit once again to today? Can they reach people in need without being attacked, detained, obstructed? And when they are attacked, will anyone pay the price? Too often, I'm afraid, the answer has been a resounding no. More than 1,000 humanitarians killed over three years, many more wounded, kidnapped, detained. We grieve them, we honour them, and we commit again to this work in their memory. Far too often, it is Member States who are responsible. So a signature, I'm afraid, is not a shield. A declaration is not protection. Concern alone is not consequence. We need you to build on this leadership, to use your diplomatic, political, economic power to change the behaviour of parties to conflict. Press them to protect civilians, respect humanitarian law, not selectively, not when it's convenient, and I'm afraid, not only when the perpetrator is your adversary. Let's also end the hierarchy of outrage. An attack on our local colleagues is just as much an attack on us as an attack on any international staff member. So we need credible investigations, prosecutions, Justice for victims and families. Justice those who fire the weapon, those who provide the weapon, those who sell the weapon, those who design the weapon. Many of them in countries represented here today. Over those three years, 1,000 deaths. How many investigations can we between us recall? How many perpetrators could we name today who were brought to justice? How many states really felt pain and pressure for what they have done? So, Excellencies, on behalf of the humanitarians on the front lines, please make this declaration a living document. In decisions on who you arm, in how you talk to parties to conflict and those who back them, in the decisions that require political courage at home. Let us be clear what success looks like. Fewer dead humanitarians, attacks investigated, and more people therefore reached with life-saving support. There is no delivering aid without defending those who deliver it. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Tom. I'm now very honored to invite Mirjana Spoladic, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, to deliver the remarks. And can I thank you, President, for the ICRC's tireless efforts to champion international humanitarian law, including the Global IHL Initiative, which complements the Declaration?

Thank you. Thank you, Penny. Dear Excellencies, And dear colleagues, I want to start by thanking Minister Wong for her personal commitment. You have launched this initiative together with your friends and partners of many other states because you really mean to make a difference, and you have my full support. Because the people that we speak about today are our colleagues, and they are especially also my colleagues. They are people who dedicate their days to helping others, and they are being killed in record numbers today. I meet their parents, I meet their brothers and sisters, but most importantly, I meet their wives and their husbands, and very often they leave behind little children. And sometimes we cannot even retrieve their bodies. to ensure dignified burials. And in one instance in the recent years, we were attacked while we tried to retrieve the body. And we knew that the colleague was dead because he passed while being on the phone with us and we couldn't get to him. It shatters me, it shatters our colleagues, and it shatters the whole Red Cross and Red Crescent movement because we want too many of volunteers. Deliberate attacks against humanitarian workers are a clear violation of international humanitarian law. They constitute war crimes. But this is just the tip of the iceberg because when such attacks become normalized, There's a risk that violations against civilians have already become the norm. The safety of humanitarian personnel is inseparable from the safety of all civilians in a given situation of armed violence. And it is inseparable from the provision of humanitarian assistance per se. Without humanitarian worker, workers, you cannot provide humanitarian assistance. And this is why it is critical that states join both the Declaration on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel and the Global IHL Initiative to galvanize political commitment to international humanitarian law. Together, they reinforce one single purpose: to ensure respect for IHL with the purpose to saving lives, and alleviating suffering in war. So I really want to reiterate my call to you as state representatives to call your allies. It means use all means of influence that you have in your portfolio, political means, diplomatic means, financial means, economic means, to ensure respect for IHL, sign the Declaration on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, and join the Global Initiative. And once you have joined it, if you haven't done so already, please attend the international conference convened by His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan on December 7th this year at the highest possible level. because we have to make this a political priority going forward. I thank you very much.

Thank you, Mirjana, and thank you for all the work you and all those who work with you too. Colleagues, what I propose now is that we join in a moment's silence in recognition of the humanitarians who lost their lives, and we will then thereafter have a short film. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Giving assistance to the people who need it the most, we need to give a voice to the people that don't have a voice. When you spend half of the night in shelter holding your baby and next day you need go and do your job for other people who experience the same.

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Our message to the leaders is simple: invest in practical protection measures that keep both humanitarian workers and civilians safe.

I think that our leaders at all levels, at the global level, should continue to advocate for this and give us the necessary means to reach the most vulnerable people.

There are laws and rules, but on the ground, the rules are not always respected. When humanitarian workers are safe, we can stay and deliver.

Colleagues, we have some 38 humanitarian organisations with us today. Can you join me in a round of applause to thank them and humanitarians Thank you, colleagues. I now will invite the members of the ministerial group who have the nation states who worked with us to develop this declaration. I thank them from the bottom of my heart for their political support. And I start with my friend, Pak Sugih, from Indonesia.

Thank you, co-chairs. Excellencies, the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel we launched last year represents our shared commitment to ensure greater safety for those carrying out humanitarian work in times of crisis and conflicts. Today, more than 120 countries support the declaration. This growing support must now be matched by action because the reality remains deeply troubling. Hundreds of humanitarian workers have been killed in recent years. Hospitals and humanitarian facilities continue to come under attack. Humanitarian access continues to be obstructed. Indonesia has experienced this tragedy directly. Indonesian hospital in Gaza was attacked, our peacekeepers were killed while serving under the UN flag. These are painful reminders that the fundamental problem is not the absence of rules, it is the failure to respect them. International humanitarian law is clear that humanitarian and medical personnel must be respected and protected. Violations must be investigated and those responsible held accountable. There can be no impunity for violations of international humanitarian law. At the same time, we continue strengthening our practical capacity to protect those operating on the front lines. This means stronger training and preparedness, better coordination, and responsible use of technology to improve safety and situational awareness. Indonesia puts this commitment into actions. At the UN Human Rights Council, together with Kuwait, Egypt and Malaysia, Indonesia advanced a resolution addressing the obstruction of humanitarian access and threats to humanitarian personnel. We are also strengthening mandatory pre-deployment training on international humanitarian law for our peacekeepers. Excellencies, as we look ahead, our focus must be on ensuring that the declaration makes a real difference on the ground. Protecting those who serve humanity is not an act of generosity, it is an obligation under international law and a responsibility shared by international community. And let us turn the momentum we have built into lasting protection for those who serve humanity. And I thank you.

Can I now invite the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone to give his remarks.

Your Excellency, Madam Penny Wong, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia, Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen. One year ago, Sierra Leone joined Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom in launching the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel. We did so because we share a common, simple but profound conviction: those who risk their lives to save the lives of others must themselves be protected. Today, as we mark the first anniversary of the declaration, that conviction is more urgent than ever before. Over the past year, Sierra Leone has supported joint statements on the protection of humanitarian personnel, participated in events promoting the protection of civilians, and reiterated through our national statements the importance of respecting international law. Sierra Leone remains fully committed to advancing these efforts and strengthen the protection of those who serve and safeguard others. As we enter the second year of the declaration, Sierra Leone believes that we must move from a culture of commitment to a culture of implementation. We encourage all Member States that have not yet endorsed the declaration to do so. We encourage signatories to translate their commitments into national policies, operational procedures, and concrete measures. Let the anniversary mark not simply one year since the declaration was launched, but the beginning of a new phase of determined implementation. Let us ensure that those who carry food, medicine, and hope into the world's most dangerous places are able to return safe to their families. And let us demonstrate through action that in our shared humanity, no one who saves lives should have to sacrifice their own. I thank you.

Thank you very much, Sierra Leone. Can I now invite the Right Honourable Ed Miliband, MP, Secretary of State for the United Kingdom to deliver his remarks.

Thank you, Penny. I thank you and Ayman for your personal leadership on this issue, which is truly appreciated and important. The UK is proud to support you. We need to be honest that, on an issue like this, words and a session like this feel wholly inadequate to the scale of what is happening. and the killing of humanitarian personnel who are simply trying to help people in zones of conflict. I think that we should acknowledge that. What is the best thing that we can do to stand for respect for international humanitarian law and then to speak up for justice and to demand accountability? That is what I want to do briefly in my remarks. I want to start with Gaza, the deadliest place on earth to deliver aid. We have seen countless incidents against humanitarian personnel over the past three years, yet there has been little accountability. I want to specifically mention what happened with the World Central Kitchen workers, the strikes that killed seven humanitarians, including three British nationals. As people will know, Israel has decided not to pursue criminal investigations into those strikes. I just want to say very clearly that that is absolutely shameful. Last month, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom expressed our outrage in the strongest terms. I know we have the CEO of the World Central Kitchen here, and I want to say to him, and in particular to the victims and their families, that they deserve answers and justice, and we will not give up on the pursuit of answers and justice in this case or in a whole range of other cases. I also want to acknowledge in relation to Gaza that Having spoken to lots of doctors and humanitarian workers who are serving there recently, they described the most terrible conditions and also the most terrible obstacles to their work, as Aymen said earlier. We will continue to do everything we can to support the people of Gaza and those working to help them. And tomorrow, together with Jordan and Qatar, we will host an event to press for action on healthcare and humanitarian access. Of course, it is not just in Gaza where humanitarian personnel continue to be killed, injured, kidnapped and detained. The Houthi detention of humanitarian, UN and diplomatic mission personnel remains completely unacceptable. We call for their immediate and unconditional release. In Sudan, as elsewhere, it is local aid workers who are the backbone of the response amid this terrible humanitarian crisis, but they face repeated obstruction and they work amid growing drone warfare and lethal incidents, such as this month's strike on a clearly marked World Food Programme convoy. The UK will continue to support implementation of the drones roadmap and action framework, and I encourage others to do the same. And as I said, the courage of humanitarian aid workers places a responsibility on all of us to protect them, champion international humanitarian law and pursue accountability. I think the declaration gives us a shared basis to do that. The UK will continue to work with Australia and our ministerial group partners to implement this vital set of commitments. And I give my personal commitment that as Foreign Secretary, I will do everything I can to work to support and show solidarity with the humanitarian personnel who show such bravery and who do such important work. Thank you.

Thank you so much, Ed. We will hear from a number of other ministerial group members shortly. I am now going to ask, however, my colleague, the Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa, to make a contribution, and then I am going to hand the chair to my co-chair and friend, Ayman, to proceed with chairing the remainder of this session. Deputy Prime Minister Talofa.

Co-Chairs, Excellencies, Talofa and warm Pacific greetings. Samoa is proud to have endorsed the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel and fully aligns with its core principles. These include the unwavering respect for and strict adherence to international humanitarian law. the strengthening of measures to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian personnel, and a firm commitment to accountability and justice in response to violations. A principled approach, firmly anchored in international law, remains the most credible and consistent basis for collective action in situations of conflict. At the same time, We underscore that the conduct of all humanitarian personnel must remain firmly grounded in the fundamental humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence. These principles are essential not only to safeguard access and trust, but also to preserve the integrity and legitimacy of humanitarian action. Samoa calls on all parties to conflict to fully respect their obligation under international humanitarian law, including the protection of humanitarian workers and the facilitation of safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to those in need. We stand ready to engage constructively with all Member States and partners to advance the effective implementation of this declaration, ensuring that humanitarian personnel operating in conflict settings are protected and enabled to carry out their critical mandates safely, timely, and without hindrance. Thank you, and God bless.

Thank you, Penny, for your leadership again. And now I give the floor to our colleague from the Gambia. Sir, please take the floor.

At the outset, allow me to thank Australia for bringing together a cross-regional coalition of UN member states and humanitarian organizations to discuss the scourge of the rise in attacks on humanitarian personnel, with the aim to strengthen global action, safeguarding the rights of humanitarian workers operating in conflict settings and emergency situations. Indeed, given the challenging times we are experiencing, the fractious geographical dynamics impacting our globe, and the volatility of our conflict environments, the international community faces profound tests of resilience. The pressures are putting our very existence in jeopardy. placing our shared security and humanity at risk. We therefore cannot afford complacency. The Gambia believes that protecting humanitarian workers is cardinal to preserving the core principles that governs the global humanitarian system, humanity, impartiality, and neutrality, and therefore supports the declaration on the protection of humanitarian personnel as a watershed moment in galvanizing our collective efforts towards consolidating the application of international humanitarian law in our peacebuilding, peacemaking, and peace consolidation initiatives. The Gambia believes firmly that the rights of humanitarian personnel must be adhered and protected, and we denounce any derogation of the recognition of these rights under any circumstances. We commend Australia and all countries that support this meaningful effort to ensure that the rights of humanitarian personnel therefore remain high on the international agenda. The Gambia continues to be concerned that, despite the universal ratification of the Geneva Conventions, violations of fundamental humanitarian norms are widespread. The protection of medical personnel, units and transport is a core principle stipulated under the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and forms part of customary international humanitarian law. As such, in both cases of interstate and internal conflicts, Attacks against humanitarian workers and facilities engaged in discharging professional activities is prohibited under international law. There is an urgent need for the protection of civilians and civilian spaces across conflict zones and safeguard the sanctity of our shared humanity from the scourge of war and hostilities. The Gambia reaffirms that at the core of the enduring character and relevance of the Geneva Conventions. The launch of this declaration is our abiding respect for international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles. Therefore, the Gambia recommends increased efforts towards raising awareness on international standards concerning the protection of humanitarian workers in the context of conflicts. We also call on Member States and policymakers to strengthen domestic law and military doctrines to sufficiently integrate IHL rules on the protection of healthcare in arms conflict and fight impunity by ensuring that violations are properly addressed. In conclusion, like the ICRC and the IRC did, we must reiterate the call for a report on implementation of Resolution 2286 of the Security Council. States must renew their commitment to the Geneva Conventions and uphold the principles that humanity must prevail in war. It is a collective responsibility that those who dedicate their precious lives to assist civilian populations during times of conflict will themselves be protected. You can rely on the support of the Gambia in the renewal of this call and spirit. I very much thank you for your kind attention. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Now I give the floor to the Foreign Minister of Fiji. Please take the floor.

Co-Chairs, Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, Fiji wishes to thank the ministerial group, in particular Australia, my friend Minister Wong, and Jordan as co-chairs of the Group of Friends for convening this meeting and for their leadership over the past year. One year ago, this declaration was launched with a simple message. Those who bring help to people in crisis must themselves be protected. The figures before us are sobering. Behind each number is a person who chose to run towards danger that others might live. Fiji comes to this discussion from two perspectives. First, as a country that has served the United Nations for decades. Fijian women and men have worn the blue helmet in some of the world's most difficult missions. 66 of our soldiers and police officers have paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving under the United Nations flag. So their loss has been felt by families and communities across Fiji, so we understand Personally, the turmoil and human cost that violence brings. We know that protecting civilians and enabling humanitarian access are inseparable. We also know that the safety of humanitarian personnel depends on respect for international humanitarian law by all parties, without exception. Second, as a Pacific small island developing state, we live with cyclones, floods, and rising seas, and in our region, humanitarian response is often a matter of neighbors helping neighbors across vast ocean distances with local responders, civil society, and community volunteers at the front line. So therefore, protection must extend to all humanitarian personnel, including national and local staff, who make up the great majority of those killed. So let me offer three priorities as we move from commitment to action. One, adherence to international humanitarian law must be reinforced through practice, including training, military doctrine, and national legislation. Two, accountability. Where attacks occur, there must be prompt, impartial investigation. And accountability must be universal and without exception, applying equally to all parties whose actions undermine the principles, protections and obligations of international humanitarian law. Impunity invites repetition. And three, inclusion. The voices of humanitarian personnel from the field and of smaller states must inform how this declaration is implemented. Fiji stands ready to work with all signatories to give this declaration practical effect. Na vale, thank you.

Thank you, sir. Now we'll listen to our colleague from the Foreign Minister of Maldives. Please take the floor.

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Thank you, co-chairs, excellencies. I thank Australia for its leadership in advancing this important declaration. A humanitarian worker carrying food, medicine, or water must never become a target. Yet in Gaza, those who save lives have been killed in staggering numbers. Hundreds of UNRWA personnel and those supporting its work have been killed. Humanitarian facilities have been damaged. Aid workers continue to operate under extraordinary risks and restrictions. The Maldives strongly condemns the killing of humanitarian personnel by Israel. This declaration must move from commitment to action. First, Israel must ensure that humanitarian notifications and deconfliction arrangements are respected in practice. Humanitarian personnel, premises, vehicles, and clearly coordinated movements must be protected. This protection must extend equally to national and locally recruited personnel who are often exposed to the greatest risks. Second, incidents involving the killing of humanitarian personnel must be subject to prompt, independent, impartial, and transparent investigation. In cases where violations have occurred, those responsible must be held accountable. Internal reviews cannot become a substitute for justice. Third, humanitarian access must be full, safe, rapid, and unhindered. Food, medicine, and essential supplies cannot be obstructed or used as instruments of pressure. These obligations apply everywhere and to every party. That is why Gaza is a case we cannot ignore. A pledge that does not protect the people on the ground is only a pledge on paper. Our task is to make protection real. I would like to commit the Maldives and also appreciate all those countries who support this declaration. I thank you. Wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Wa alaikum salam. Thank you, Your Excellency. Now I give the floor to European Commissioner Hajia. Please take the floor.

Aymen, and thank you, Penny. Ladies and gentlemen, it's a pleasure to speak to you on behalf of the European Union and its member states. Today, more than 130 conflicts are raging around the world. I visit some of these crises, and I always meet the aid workers. They are a different sort of person. They wake up in the morning asking a very simple question: "How can I help?" I have met them in hospitals, in refugee camps, at border crossings and on the front lines. They keep going when most people would turn back. They step into danger because someone needs them. In many ways, they seem almost superhuman, but they are not superhuman. They are people just like you and me. They have families waiting for them. They get tired. They get frightened. They carry with them what they have seen. And they need protection. They need support. Because too often, they become targets. International humanitarian law is still our strongest shield for civilians in war. But today, that shield is under growing pressure. The rules are violated. Their very relevance is also questioned. Humanitarian and medical workers continue to respond with extraordinary courage. Yet attacks against them are rising. People are being killed, injured, detained and harassed simply for doing their jobs. When an aid worker is attacked, the consequences go far beyond one person. A clinic may close. A convoy may stop. An entire community may lose its lifeline. The simple truth is, without aid workers, there is no humanitarian aid. That is why protecting them is a top priority for the European Union. This declaration has brought countries together around a clear commitment. Now, that commitment must make people safer on the ground through stronger respect for international humanitarian law, better protection and accountability when the rules are broken. The EU is working to keep aid workers safer. Through our Protect Aid Workers programme, we provide fast support when humanitarian staff are attacked or in danger, from medical care and psychological support to relocation and legal assistance. The programme is already supporting more than 750 aid workers across 25 countries, and we are now making that support permanent so aid workers can count on it wherever they are. We are investing in better security, stronger data, and support for local organization. And we will also keep pushing for strong international support for the annual UN General Assembly resolution on the safety and security of humanitarian and UN personnel. And we will defend principled humanitarian action from the unintended consequences of sanctions and counterterrorism measures. In October, Ireland and the European Commission will co-host the International Conference on the Protection of Humanitarian Aid Workers in Brussels, the first international conference dedicated to this issue. Humanitarian aid workers are not superhuman. They are just people like us. They should never have to wonder if the world will protect them as they are protecting others. We must, and they can count on the European Union to do exactly that. Thank you.

Thank you, Hajja. Canada speaks next.

Good afternoon. Bonjour.

I would like to thank Australia and the ministerial group for their role

in terms of this important issue.

Countries to endorse the declaration for the protection of humanitarian personnel. Today, I'm proud to reaffirm our determination to protecting those who give a lifeline to millions of innocent people around the world. The growing number of attacks on humanitarian workers is one of the clearest signs of the increasingly dangerous world we face. We all know the devastating numbers, but they bear repeating. Last year, at least 326 humanitarians were killed around the world. Over the past three years, the number is above 1,000. Three weeks ago, I visited a Lebanese Red Cross centre in Tyre, where a Red Cross facility was struck, one worker killed and several injured. This should never happen. Sadly, this is not an isolated case. Similarly, a Canadian and others were killed while working for the World Central Kitchen in Gaza. As Minister Miliband and Minister Anita Anand have stated, we continue to demand the incident be investigated and those responsible be held to account. Our endorsement of the declaration must be followed by concrete action. We need greater compliance with international humanitarian law, credible investigations and accountability for attacks against humanitarian personnel, and practical measures that enable humanitarian actors to operate safely and reach vulnerable people in need. In line with our commitments, Canada is proud to support the International NGO Safety Organization, or INSO, and the Aid Workers Security Database. Today, I am pleased to announce that Canada has increased its support to INSO by $2.5 million. INSO is a crucial partner in helping humanitarian organizations operate safely in high-risk environments. Through INSO, we are helping enable humanitarian partners to make informed decisions, protect their staff, and continue delivering assistance where it is needed most. Canada was also a proud co-sponsor to co-sponsor an event on protecting the protectors earlier this year with Australia. And we joined the ICRC's humanitarian war initiative to put pressure on states to strengthen international humanitarian law and protect civilians, humanitarians, and medical facilities. Humanitarian organizations and personnel cannot shoulder the responsibility of reaching the most vulnerable alone. Together, we must uphold international law and protect civilians, including humanitarian personnel. Failure will be measured in human lives. Canada encourages all states to renew their commitment and to adopt specific measures.

Thank you, Your Excellency. And before I give the floor to our colleague from Brazil, may I kindly ask you to limit your remarks to two, three minutes maximum, because we have a long list of speakers. I want to give the opportunity to everybody to speak. So Brazil goes first, and I hope you set an example of finishing in two minutes. Thank you.

Thank you. One year on, the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel has garnered the endorsement of more than 150 states. reflecting a shared political commitment to advancing the protection of humanitarian personnel around the world. A year has passed, yet attacks on humanitarian workers continue at an alarming rate. This devastating trend constitutes a direct attack on international humanitarian law. IHL establishes a clear obligation to all parties to armed conflict to respect and protect those engaged in humanitarian activities. Any deliberate hindrance to humanitarian relief constitutes a violation of that body of law. Brazil has actively promoted the objectives of the declaration at both national and international levels, including through outreach to government institutions, the armed forces, and the National Commission on International Humanitarian Law, as well as through engagement in multilateral fora and initiatives promoted by declarations group of friends. We gather today with two main goals. The first is to pay tribute to humanitarian personnel killed in conflict zones. These dedicated individuals place themselves in some of the most dangerous environments on earth in order to provide life-saving support to the most vulnerable. The second is to underscore the need for tangible progress towards reversing this unacceptable trend. We hope that the declaration will continue to gain wide support and inspire concrete action. We must ensure that our legal obligations are translated into meaningful protection on the ground and that violations do not go unpunished. We stand united in the conviction of the value of a renewed global commitment to protect humanitarian workers. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Now I give the floor to Switzerland. Ignacio, please. And we're looking forward for Swiss precision when it comes to time.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, thank you, Penny. Thank you, Ahmad. Thank you, dear friends, for once again convening this event and for keeping the protection of humanitarian personnel high on our agenda. Resolution 2730 on the protection of humanitarian UN personnel was adopted in May 24. We now have to ask ourselves a simple question: what is changing on the ground? Declarations, recommendations and voluntary reports have their value, but if they consume considerable time and effort while producing little practical effect, We need to change our method. The protection of humanitarian workers cannot become an exercise in producing more words. We need to move from commitment to implementation and from principles to tools. This is, ladies and gentlemen, why Switzerland is launching a series of workshops in Geneva to find ways to better implement Resolution 2730. The first, last June, focused on humanitarian access. The next will address accountability for violations against humanitarian workers. But we would like to go one step further. We are developing a practical toolbox for implementation, not another declaration, not another reporting exercise, but a common operational framework that states and humanitarian organizations can use. A checklist of the questions we should systematically ask. A way to identify gaps. A set of practical options to address them. And a way to move step by step from political commitment to concrete implementations. The protection of humanitarian personnel must be part of a systematic practice rather than an ad hoc response. What should governments look at? What should ministers ask their administrations? Which measures are already in place? What is missing? What concrete steps should follow? Switzerland is ready to work with interested states, humanitarian organizations, and practitioners as we develop this toolbox. toolbox. And we should better communicate these obligations. Conventional voices, of course, but also voices that can reach audiences far beyond diplomatical rooms. Excellencies, the last three years were among the deadliest years on record for humanitarian workers. We cannot accept this as the new normal. Those who risk their lives to help others must be protected effectively and systematically. The time has come to better act together. Thank you.

Thank you, Ignacio. And the next two minutes go to Japan.

Thank you, co-chair and excellencies. During last year's UN General Assembly high-level week, this declaration was launched. And the growing number of signatories is a testament to the heightening importance of ensuring the lives and safety of humanitarian personnel, especially given that many humanitarian personnel continue to fall victim to violence around the world. I would like to take this opportunity to provide a slightly more detailed introduction about Japan's practices related to the declaration. In 2000, Japan led the establishment of an emergency preparedness training platform called E-Center for the Asia-Pacific region. Since then, Japan has played a leading role in strengthening the regional humanitarian response capacities in collaboration with UNHCR. At this eCenter, in collaboration with Japanese NGOs, we conduct practical scenario-based trainings for humanitarian personnel, including NGO staff, on topics that form the foundation of international humanitarian response, such as security risk management, humanitarian negotiations, and safety in the field. Since 2024, Japan has also supported the expansion of the eCenter initiative to Africa, Through this, humanitarian personnel operating in some of the highest risk areas are able to acquire the essential knowledge and skills needed to protect themselves and deliver humanitarian assistance safely. As a member of this declaration's group of friends, Japan would like to reiterate our firm commitment to the protection of humanitarian personnel. Thank you for your attention.

Thank you, sir. The floor now goes to Philippines.

Co-chairs, excellencies, and colleagues, we welcome this opportunity to reaffirm our steadfast support for the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, which we joined at its launch a year ago. One year on, our task is clear, to translate the commitments we made into protection that is felt on the ground. We remain deeply concerned by the continuing attacks and threats against humanitarian personnel. Every attack puts at risk not only those who deliver aid, but also the communities that depend on the vital lifeline of humanitarian assistance. The Philippines knows from experience the importance of ensuring that humanitarian action is safe, timely, and unhindered. At the national level, the Philippines continues to strengthen the implementation of our IHL obligations through domestic legislation, capacity building, and the recent institutionalization of our permanent interagency committee on IHL. At the international level, the Philippines co-chairs the work stream on national IHL committees under the global IHL initiative. We also joined the Group of Friends for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel in Geneva in December 2025, because this is a responsibility no state can advance alone. excellencies, the measure of this declaration will ultimately be what changes on the ground. The Philippines stands ready to work with member states, the United Nations, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and other stakeholders to turn its commitments into concrete action so that humanitarian personnel are respected and protected and can reach people in need safely, rapidly, and without obstruction. Thank you.

Thank you, Your Excellency. Back to you.

Can I express my gratitude to all of the member states who've made a contribution here today and over the last year through the process of coming together to create the declaration, but also to add to it. For our final remarks today, I want to invite the Secretary General of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which is such a valued partner supporting local humanitarian responders, and we're very grateful to have you here, Jagan.

Thank you. Thank you, Minister Wong. Thank you. Thank you, everyone. I was just listening to you very carefully, and it reminded me of an interaction I recently had with a colleague from Lebanese Red Cross. part of the emergency medical services in Lebanon. As you know, Lebanese Red Cross has extensive emergency medical services in the country. And he told me that every morning when they come together to be dispatched, they hug each other and say goodbye because they do not know whether they will meet again next day. You can just imagine the psyche of those colleagues when they hug each other and say goodbye. And unfortunately, for some of them, that was the last goodbye. And I'm mentioning this because people carrying the greatest risks are overwhelmingly local responders. More than 97% of the humanitarians killed have been local or the national staff. And they should never carry the greatest risk. with the least protection. So what I heard, listening to so many statements today, and I tried to sort of capture them into four categories. The first category was basically everybody's call that let's wholeheartedly support the efforts of states and, of course, of the ICRC to uphold international humanitarian law. And I heard not selectively, but consistently in every conflict and for every humanitarian workers, internationals or local, without distinction. The second message I heard consistently has been to secure safe and unhindered humanitarian access and protect the emblems and the logos and those who serve under them. Third one I heard was a need to invest on duty of care, adequate security, Training, I heard just from the minister from Switzerland, equipment, insurance and psychosocial support, especially for local responders, because they do not have these type of mechanisms in many of the countries. And support to the families too. For many of them, the one they lost was the sole breadwinner. And just this year, I had to sign so far 21 condolences letter where the families have lost. Most of the time, they are breadwinners. I really want to thank Australia and the European Union in particular for supporting the Our Red Family Fund, which supports those families who have lost their loved ones. Finally, the final point I heard was about the need to ensure accountability. Attacks against humanitarian personnel must be investigated and impunity must not become the norm. That was, I think, a consistent theme from many of you. We cannot gather again next year to add names to the list of those we mourn. Hopefully, we can come back next year in a situation where we have lost fewer colleagues and hopefully none. More came home safely, access remained opened, and we could reach more people. So those who devote their lives to humanity should not have to sacrifice their lives for humanity. So let that be our promise. I thank you.

Well, thank you, Secretary General. They are very powerful words to sum up this event, after which there have been many, many powerful words spoken by all of you. I want to thank all of you for your attendance. I want to thank all of you for your support for the declaration. I particularly want to thank my friend Eamon for all of his work, and the ministerial group of friends, thank you for your work. For those who have not yet signed the declaration, it is available in the well of the Chamber for you to sign. I end with this point. The declaration is an affirmation of values, but it is also a commitment to act. So between now and when we meet again next year, let us act. Thank you very much.