지난 25년간 하루도 빠짐없이 평균 최소 1명의 인도주의 활동가가 살해, 부상, 납치, 구금되었으며, 2025년은 사상 최고 사망자 수를 기록할 것으로 보입니다.

이에 따라, 호주의 주도로 마련된 「인도주의 활동가 보호 선언문」이 9월 21일 뉴욕 유엔총회에서 발표 되었습니다.

이번 선언은 2024년 유엔 안전보장이사회 결의안 2730을 보완하며, 인도주의 활동가와 유엔 인력을 존중하고 보호할 것을 각국에 촉구합니다.

비록 법적 구속력은 없지만, 각국이 국제법 준수와 인도주의 인력 보호에 대한 정치적 의지를 명확히 드러낸다는 점에서 중요한 의미를 지닙니다.

특히,제네바 협약과 추가의정서에 명시된 인도주의 활동가에 대한 공격 금지 원칙을 다시금 강조하고 있습니다. 

UNITED NATIONS, 21 Sept 2025 - With 2025 on track to become the deadliest year on record for aid workers, Save the Children is urging UN Member States to endorse a new Declaration on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel as a vital step to reverse this alarming trend.

The Australia-led Declaration – launching today at the UN General Assembly in New York –aims to strengthen compliance and implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 2730, which calls on States to respect and protect United Nations and humanitarian personnel in accordance with their obligations under international law. 

While the Declaration is not legally binding, it is a strong statement of political will by signatories to protect all humanitarian personnel and uphold compliance with international law, including the prohibition of attacks against humanitarian personnel under the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocol. 

Such a statement of political will is particularly crucial at a time when attacks on aid workers are at a record high, with 2024 the deadliest year on record for aid workers, and 2025 on track to be even worse. The Declaration further aims to shift political will into practical steps that states can take to improve the safety and security of humanitarian personnel, including national staff who bear the brunt of the attack on the sector.

Over the past 25 years on average at least one humanitarian worker has been killed, injured, kidnapped, or detained every single day – and  2025 is on track to surpass all previous death tolls.

Inger Ashing, Save the Children CEO, said: 

“Across the world, humanitarian aid workers selflessly do whatever it takes to save lives, partner with communities, ease pain and suffering, and preserve human dignity for those in need. They work in the world’s most volatile conflict zones or areas devastated by disaster. 

“Yet they are being failed by the system around them. Last year was the deadliest on record for aid workers, with 383 people killed, including about 172 killed by this time last year. The vast majority of aid workers killed are national staff. This year is already on track to surpass all previous death tolls, with some 287 humanitarians killed so far.

“We urge all governments to endorse the Declaration on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel at the upcoming UNGA High Level Week in September, to demonstrate global commitment to protect humanitarian personnel and uphold international humanitarian law. The Declaration will only achieve its goals if States endorse its values and work to implement its requirements, and if non-State armed groups refrain from attacking aid workers.

“We call on all governments to demand accountability for every violation of international humanitarian law against aid workers—and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

“Our colleagues around the world demonstrate tremendous bravery, compassion, and commitment every day, as they address some of the most complex challenges of our time, and in some of the most difficult circumstances. It is through their effort and innovation that we can ensure a safe and hopeful environment for children and their families. They must be protected.”

The Declaration is designed to bolster and reinforce the UN Secretary-General’s efforts to address threats to humanitarian personnel, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2730 Protection of civilians in armed conflict. It seeks to translate the political commitment to protect humanitarian personnel in UNSCR 2730 into practical action, supporting the UN Secretary General’s efforts to address threats to humanitarian personnel. The Declaration also provides a framework to support complementary initiatives, like the ICRC’s Global Initiative to Galvanise Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law.

NOTES: 

• In September 2024, Australia’s Foreign Minister convened a cross-regional Ministerial Group with Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Sierra Leone, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The Ministerial Group has since drafted a Declaration on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, which demonstrates the unity of the international community's commitment to protect humanitarian personnel and to channel that commitment into action in all current and future conflicts.
• The Declaration is being launched Sunday 21 September in the margins of UN High-level Week in September. Countries that endorse early will be recognised at the Declaration’s launch.
• The Declaration is open to countries to endorse.