World Vision International’s President and CEO welcomes the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, a vital step forward in safeguarding those who risk everything to serve communities in crisis and to protect humanitarian access.

In 2024 alone, 383 aid workers were killed – a shocking 31% increase from the previous year and 308 more were wounded. With 265 aid workers killed in just the first eight months of 2025, this year is on course to become the deadliest ever for humanitarian personnel.

“Every aid worker represents bold hope, courage and compassion in the face of crisis, and every lost life is a tragedy beyond words. This Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel marks a critical milestone in global efforts to safeguard those who risk everything to serve others. Humanitarian workers are stepping up in the world's most dangerous places to bring hope for the most vulnerable," said Andrew Morley, World Vision International’s President and CEO, who attended the declaration ceremony in New York.  "I urge all parties to conflict—State and non-State alike—to uphold their obligations under international law and ensure the safety of humanitarian staff. Together, we must turn political will into practical action that protects lives and preserves humanitarian access.”

As a global Christian child-focused relief, development and advocacy organisation with 75 years of experience, World Vision stands in solidarity with all humanitarian actors who risk their lives to bring assistance, hope and healing to communities affected by conflict and disaster.

World Vision commends Australia’s leadership in spearheading the Declaration, developed through a cross-regional Ministerial Group including Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Sierra Leone, Switzerland, and the UK. The Declaration is non-binding but reinforces existing obligations under International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and complements relevant UN resolutions. It focuses on four key areas: adherence to IHL, humanitarian access, alignment of protections for international and local workers, and accountability. It also provides a list of practical actions that states can implement based on their context and capacity.

World Vision is particularly encouraged by the pragmatic approach of the Declaration, and its focus on practical steps to translate political will into action that will make a difference for aid workers and communities on the ground, and protect vital humanitarian access. We call on governments to endorse the declaration, join the Group of Friends, in Geneva, and contribute to taking meaningful collective steps to protect principled humanitarian work.

ENDS