From Geneva to the frontlines: turning commitments into protection for humanitarian personnel
More than 50 States joined the Permanent Representative-level meeting of the Group of Friends for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel for a candid exchange with UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, on one of the most urgent questions facing humanitarian action today: how to move from political commitment to practical protection for the people who dedicate their lives to support others in armed conflict and crisis.
The meeting was convened under the leadership of the Group of Friends Co-Chairs, H.E. Ms. Clare Walsh, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia, and H.E. Mr. Akram Harahsheh, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
The discussion gave Member States an opportunity to engage directly with a humanitarian leader who brings a system-wide perspective on the challenges facing humanitarian organisations and the personnel delivering assistance in conflict settings.
For the Group of Friends, the discussion served as both a moment of reflection and a call to action. Through the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, many Member States have already committed to uphold international humanitarian law, support safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access, align protection for international, national and local humanitarian personnel, and advance accountability and justice. The central question all face now is how to turn those commitments into concrete outcomes in the field.
A direct insight from the front lines to Geneva
Mr Fletcher focused the discussion on the lived realities of humanitarian personnel, particularly national and local responders who are often first to arrive, last to leave, and most exposed to danger. Across conflict settings, these aid workers keep kitchens running, support emergency rooms, conduct evacuations, reach communities across front lines and continue to serve long after international attention has shifted elsewhere. Yet they remain too often underfunded, under-recognised and insufficiently protected.
Mr Fletcher noted that locally engaged workers make up the majority of humanitarian workers attacked.
"The past three years have been the deadliest on record for humanitarian workers; over a thousand of our colleagues killed. The vast majority of those are local and national staff, many working for local organisations. They pay the heaviest price far away from the headlines and, I'm afraid, far away from accountability,”.
He situated these attacks within the context of broader erosion of respect for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, challenging Member States to confront a difficult reality: if the rules already exist, why are they not being upheld?
The discussion drew a direct link between decisions taken in multilateral fora and the realities facing humanitarian workers in places such as Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, Yemen, Myanmar, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It also reinforced a central message: while humanitarian organisations continue to adapt to increasingly dangerous environments, adaptation alone cannot replace protection.
For Member States, exchanges of this kind provide an opportunity to test political commitments against operational realities and hear directly from those closest to the risks.
A conversation welcomed across the room
Member States welcomed the opportunity to engage with Mr Fletcher and reflected on the practical value of the Group of Friends as a forum for sustained political attention, peer exchange and dialogue between humanitarian practitioners and policymakers.
Participants highlighted reduced security, the impact of attacks on humanitarian operations and the need to strengthen respect for international humanitarian law. Delegations also discussed how political advocacy, accountability, awareness-raising and the sharing of good practices can contribute to improving protection for humanitarian personnel, particularly national and local responders.
Across the discussion, a common theme emerged: the Group of Friends provides a valuable platform for connecting operational realities with diplomatic engagement. By bringing together Member States and humanitarian leaders, it can help sustain attention on protection challenges, promote learning and dialogue, and support efforts to improve the safety and security of humanitarian personnel.
Turning protection into practice
For the Co-Chairs of the Group of Friends, Jordan and Australia, the discussion underscored the importance of moving from commitment to implementation.
Ambassador Harahsheh emphasised that the Declaration should be treated as a living commitment and encouraged States to advance implementation through national and regional action, regular reporting and peer learning.
Ambassador Walsh highlighted the particular vulnerabilities faced by national and local humanitarian workers and encouraged members of the Group of Friends to translate support for international humanitarian law into practical action to protect humanitarian personnel.
Together, the Co-Chairs reaffirmed the opportunity created by the Group of Friends – a forum where States can maintain sustained political attention on the protection of humanitarian personnel and identify practical pathways for implementation.
In concluding the discussion, the Co-Chairs highlighted practical areas where States and humanitarian partners could strengthen protection efforts, including improving data on attacks and access constraints, strengthening duty of care measures, supporting training and psychosocial support, and sharing good practices across regions.
Sustaining momentum
The meeting reaffirmed the value of the Group of Friends as a bridge between operational realities and diplomatic engagement. By bringing together Member States and humanitarian leaders, it provides a forum to sustain political attention on the protection of humanitarian personnel and explore practical approaches to strengthening their safety and security.