Safety and security of humanitarian personnel
and protection of United Nations personnel
A/RES/73/137
Recalling the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 2 and the Additional
Protocols thereto of 8 June 1977, 3 and the obligation of parties to armed conflict to
respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law in all circumstances,
and urging all such parties to comply with international humanitarian law and ensure
respect for and protection of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations and
associated personnel,
Recalling also the specific obligations, under international humanitarian law, to
respect and protect, in situations of armed conflict, medical personnel and
humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of
transport and equipment, and hospitals and other medical facilities, which must not
be unlawfully attacked, and to ensure that the wounded and sick receive, to the fullest
extent practicable and with the least possible delay, the medical care and attention
required,
Deeply concerned by the continuous disregard, in many cases, for the principles
and rules of international law, in particular international humanitarian law,
Reaffirming the principles of humanity, neutrality,
independence for the provision of humanitarian assistance,
impartiality
and
Recalling that primary responsibility under international law for the security and
protection of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel
lies with the Government hosting a United Nations operation conducted under the
Charter of the United Nations or its agreements with relevant organizations,
Expressing its appreciation to those Governments which respect the
internationally agreed principles on the protection of humanitarian personnel and
United Nations and associated personnel, while expressing concern over the lack of
respect for these principles in some areas,
Noting the fact that the number of States parties to the Convention on the Safety
of United Nations and Associated Personnel, 4 which entered into force on 15 January
1999, has reached 94, mindful of the need to promote the universality of the
Convention, and welcoming the entry into force on 19 August 2010 of the Optional
Protocol to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated
Personnel, 5 which expands the scope of legal protection under the Convention,
Expressing deep concern at the complex and dynamic security environment,
marked by the diverse and multifaceted threats and significant security risks faced by
humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel as they operate
in increasingly high-risk environments,
Deeply concerned about the particular vulnerability of locally recruited
humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel to safety and
security-related incidents, including assault, arrest and detention, acts of violence,
road traffic accidents and abduction, and concerned that 67 per cent of United Nations
personnel killed in 2017 were locally recruited, 6
Expressing deep concern at the exposure of humanitarian personnel and United
Nations and associated personnel to certain forms of crime and acts of intimidation
and harassment, including sexual violence and other forms of violence against
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2
3
4
5
6
2/11
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970–973.
Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513.
Ibid., vol. 2051, No. 35457.
Ibid., vol. 2689, No. 35457.
A/73/392, A/73/392/Corr.1 and A/73/392/Corr.2, para. 24.
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