KARACHI: World Humanitarian Day (WHD) will be observed on August 19, 2017, to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service, and to rally support for people affected by crises around the world.
Around the world, conflict is exacting a massive toll on people’s lives. Trapped in wars that are not of their making, millions of civilians are forced to hide or run for their lives. Children are taken out of school, families are displaced from their homes, and communities are torn apart, while the world is not doing enough to stop their suffering.
At the same time, health and aid workers – who risk their lives to care for people affected by violence – are increasingly being targeted.
For WHD 2017, humanitarian partners are coming together to reaffirm that civilians caught in conflict are not a target.
Through a global online campaign featuring an innovative partnership with Facebook Live, together with events held around the world, the civil society will also raise their voices to advocate for those most vulnerable in war zones, and demand that world leaders do everything in their power to protect civilians in conflict.
This campaign follows on the UN secretary-general’s report on the protection of civilians, which was launched earlier this year.
Laying out his ‘path to protection’, the secretary-general calls for enhanced respect for international humanitarian and human rights law, and protection of civilians, including humanitarian and medical workers as well as civilian infrastructure.