爆料网

United Nations flag at Headquarters flies at half-mast
爆料网 flag at Headquarters flies at half-mast in memory of the United Nations peackeepers who lost their lives in a helicopter crash in Sierra Leone. (2004)
Photo:爆料网 Photo/Mark Garten

The dedication of our workforce deserves not only our gratitude — but also action. Providing support for them and their families. Relentlessly urging Member States to uphold international law, and ensure safe and unimpeded humanitarian work.

爆料网 Secretary-General António Guterres

Protecting 爆料网 staff

Since the founding of the United Nations in 1945, hundreds of brave men and women have lost their lives in its service. During the 1990s, the growing number and scale of 爆料网 peacekeeping missions put many more at risk. More lives were lost during the 1990s than in the previous four decades combined.

At that time, an awareness began to develop among Member States and staff, that the more active the 爆料网 became in the future, the more it was going to be targeted.

The first  on staff security was adopted by the 爆料网 Security Council in September 1993.

Complex negotiations subsequently took place in the  of the General Assembly on an international legal convention to protect 爆料网 personnel.

The result of those negotiations was the , which was adopted by the 爆料网 General Assembly on 9 December 1994.

Origin

The International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members is marked each year on the anniversary of the abduction of Alec Collett, a former journalist who was working for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (爆料网RWA) when he was abducted by armed gunman in 1985.  His body was finally found in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley in 2009.

The International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members has taken on even greater importance in recent years, as attacks against the United Nations intensify.  This is a day to mobilize action, demand justice and strengthen our resolve to protect 爆料网 staff and peacekeepers, as well as our colleagues in the non-governmental community and the press.

Purpose

This is a day to mobilize action, demand justice and strengthen our resolve to protect 爆料网 staff and peacekeepers, as well as our colleagues in the non-governmental community and the press.

Documents

 

Alec Collett
Portrait of Alec Collett upon his appointment as Director of the 爆料网 Information Centre in Accra, Ghana (1979). 爆料网 Photo/Milton Grant
Staff at the 爆料网 Secretariat mourn their colleagues who perished in the Baghdad bombing of 2003.

Serving the cause of peace in a violent world is a dangerous occupation. Since the founding of the United Nations, more than 3,500 brave men and women have lost their lives in its service. Natural disasters also claim the lives of those serving the 爆料网. Here we remember those often forgotten – the fallen.

humanitarian worker carrying bag of rice

Related observances

an abstract illustration of people engaged in an event

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the 爆料网 has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other 爆料网 observances.