Advancing the protection of aid workers
Side event – Protection of Civilians Week
20 May 2024
With the participation of the Permanent Representation of France to the UN in New York, the Permanent Representation of Switzerland to the UN in New York, the Permanent Representation of Canada to the UN in New York, the Permanent Representation of Brazil to the UN in New York, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the United Nations Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS), Legal Action Worldwide, Action Against Hunger International and Nonviolent Peaceforce.
This event will bring together key UN, NGO and Member States’ representatives to discuss key recommendations to enhance the protection of humanitarian workers in armed conflict. The discussion will address the following key issues:
- What are the challenges faced by humanitarian organisations and States to improve the protection of aid workers, and the gaps in the current measures?
- Why is accountability a key element in the protection of aid workers and the security risk management of organisations, and how can we improve access to justice for aid workers when they are the victims of attacks?
- How to reinforce security risk management mechanisms and capacities and ensure they are sustainable, specifically with regards to national and local actors?
- How can acceptance strategies be better used to increase the protection of aid workers, including through integrating accountability strategies, and changing approaches to access to communities and armed groups?
Date and location
The event will take place on 20 May 2024 from 1 pm to 2.30 pm, at the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN, 633 Third Avenue, 29th floor, New York.
Please click here to register to participate in the event.
Speakers
Opening Remarks:
- Ambassador Pascale Baeriswyl, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the UN in New York
- Nathalie Estival-Broadhurst, Deputy Permanent Representative of France to the UN in New York
Panellists:
- Hanin Ahmed, Women and youths rights activist and co-founder of Omdurman (Sudan) Emergency Response Room (ERR)
- Chibuzo Okonta, Executive Director, Action Against Hunger (AAH/ACF)
- Gilles Michaud, Under Secretary General for Safety and Security (UNDSS)
- Edem Wosornu, Director, Operations and Advocacy Division (OAD), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
- Antonia Mulvey, Executive Director, Legal Action Worldwide (LAW)
For additional information concerning this event, please contact: Camille Delbourgo, LAW, Programme Manager, delbourgo@legalactionworldwide.org
