UN Women Statement for World Humanitarian Day

Last year, 504 male and female aid workers were killed and wounded, a sharp increase from 264 the previous year. The number of civilians killed in armed conflict increased by 72 percent in 2023 to 33,000, with the number of women killed doubling compared to the previous year. In addition, conflict-related sexual violence remains a deliberate tactic of warfare. Attacks are also increasingly targeting humanitarian and civilian infrastructure, such as hospitals, schools and playgrounds, and destroying the places where aid workers provide services. This includes women’s centres, which provide crucial services to support resilience, self-reliance and protection, and respond to the specific needs of women and girls in humanitarian contexts.

As members of affected communities with intimate knowledge of their people, networks and needs, women are often the first responders during crises. They play a central role in the survival and resilience of their families and communities, despite limited resources, security threats and access restrictions. Their continued presence is non-negotiable in these critical times – and must be protected.

Now is the time to end impunity. Join us in collective solidarity with humanitarian partners to #ActForHumanity. We must end the normalization of escalating attacks on civilians and aid workers. Conflict actors must respect the rules of war. Civilians must be protected. Safe spaces must be protected. Aid workers must be protected.

We urge world leaders to end the growing impunity for violations of international humanitarian law, which has led to an increase in attacks on aid workers and a steady increase in attacks on both humanitarian workers and civilians over the past 20 years.