欧州連合（EU）は、人道活動家の安全の確保に全力をあげている。EUは毎年、世界全体が自らの命を賭して他の人々の命を守るために、日々活動を続けている人道活動家に敬意を表する日として設けられたこの世界人道デーに際し、声明を発している。2003年のこの日、イラクのバクダッドにおいて国連本部が爆撃され、22名が犠牲となった。
自らの命を懸けて、他の人々を助けようとしている人道活動家が、その標的になることが少なくない。先週の中央アフリカ共和国の事態がそうであり、シリアでは何度も見てきた。
世界人道デーを前に、世界中の戦争や自然災害の犠牲者に支援を届けるために、命を危険にさらしている全ての人道活動家に、心底よりの敬意と賛辞を表する。他の人々のために、無私の働きを続ける活動家の勇気を、讃える。
戦争が長引き、戦時法規が無視され、踏みつけられているような状況において、支援を届けることは決して容易ではないが、常に不可欠である。人道活動家が、自由に動き、援助を最も必要としている人々を助けることが、できなければならない。
悲しいことに、過去20年間で、4,000人を超す人道活動家が、大規模攻撃の犠牲となり、そのうちの3分の1が命を落とした。このような無分別な攻撃は、国際人道法の甚だしい違反である。
The European Union (EU) is committed to the safety of humanitarian workers. Every year, the EU marks World Humanitarian Day by adding its voice to the global campaign that honours humanitarian workers who, day after day, put their lives on the line to save the lives of others. World Humanitarian Day marks the anniversary of the 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, when 22 humanitarian workers lost their lives.
High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini and Commissioner Christos Stylianides, made the following statement:
"We live in a world increasingly marked by countless attacks and violence against innocent people globally. This should never become the new normal, something we leave unchallenged.
Humanitarian workers who risk their lives to save others are often the targets. We saw this last week in Central African Republic or in Syria countless times.
Ahead of World Humanitarian Day, we pay tribute to and honour all those who risk their lives while bringing assistance to victims of wars and natural disasters worldwide. We commend the bravery of all men and women that continue to work selflessly for the benefit of others.
In long lasting conflicts, where the rules of war are ignored and trampled on, aid delivery is never easy but always indispensable. Humanitarian workers should be able to operate freely, to help those that need it most.
Sadly, more than 4000 humanitarian workers have bee nvictims of major attacks over the past two decades. Over one third of them were killed. These senseless attacks are a gross violation of International Humanitarian Law.
We will not allow these attacks to deter our commitment to continue to help those in need.
The EU is a world leader in humanitarian assistance and is committed to promoting global understanding of and respect for International Humanitarian Law and the humanitarian principles."
Background
In 2016, the EU mobilised €2.1 billion helping over 120 million people in over 80 countries around the world. This was the largest ever EU humanitarian aid budget to help those most in need, from people affected by severe large-scale crises in Syria, Yemen, South Sudan or the Lake Chad region, to victims of natural disasters such as the El Niño phenomenon, the tropical cyclone Winston in Fiji, the drought in Papua New Guinea, or the earthquake in Equator.
The EU contributes to the global respect for and compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) through advocacy and political measures such as dialogue, statements and initiatives, as well as through funding to ensure humanitarian access. The EU funds IHL dissemination targeting a wide range of stakeholders, as well as activities aimed at increasing the capacities of humanitarian workers in advocating for IHL, and implements large-scale information campaigns to raise awareness of IHL across the general public.
For more information:
