Australian Red Cross welcomes UN Declaration to protect humanitarian workers

Today Australian Red Cross has welcomed Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s signing of the Declaration on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel at the United Nations in New York.

The Declaration, signed by Minister Wong alongside other world leaders and humanitarian organisations including the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Federation of the Red Cross Red Crecent, comes at a time when the death toll for humanitarian workers is on tract to be the highest on record by the end of 2025.

Australian Red Cross CEO Andrew Colvin commended the signing of the Declaration by saying it represented a vital moment of collective resolve, delivered at a time when the dangers facing humanitarian workers have never been greater.

“Red Cross and Red Crecent humanitarian workers are not anonymous statistics. They are nurses, doctors, logisticians, and emergency responders who risk their lives to help others. They go where few others will- into conflict zones, disaster areas, and communities in crisis- because lives depend on it,” said Mr Colvin.

“This Declaration is more than words on paper, it is a collective commitment to uphold international law, to ensure accountability, and to protect those workers who serve on the frontlines of humanity,” he said.

An opinion article titled ‘Humanitarian workers are not targets – they are lifelines’ written by Australian Red Cross CEO Andrew Colvin has been published today on Australian Red Cross’ website redcross.org.au and can be read here.

For media interview requests withAustralian Red Cross CEO Andrew Colvin please contact Head of Media and Communication Lilly Ward media@redcross.org.au or 1800 733 443.