Safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel A/RES/73/137 women, and equally concerned at the significant rise in the number of reported sexual assaults against both male and female United Nations personnel, Expressing deep concern also that the occurrence of attacks and threats against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel is a factor that severely restricts the provision of assistance and protection to populations in need, and commending the commitment of United Nations and other humanitarian personnel to stay and deliver effectively the most critical programmes even in dangerous environments, Stressing the need to uphold the respect and protection which the flag of the United Nations, and the nature of humanitarian work, should comm and and ensure, and stressing the importance of fully respecting the obligations relating to the use of vehicles and premises of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel as defined by relevant international instruments, as well as the obligations relating to distinctive emblems recognized in the Geneva Conventions, Noting that medical personnel, and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, in an armed conflict situation continue to be under a duty to provide competent medical service in full professional and moral independence, with compassion and respect for human dignity, and always to bear in mind human life and to act in the patient’s best interest, stressing the need to uphold their respective professional codes of ethics, and further noting the applicable rules of international humanitarian law relating to the non-punishment of any person for carrying out medical activities compatible with medical ethics, Commending the courage and commitment of those who take part in humanitarian operations, especially national and locally recruited personnel, and including those serving with national and international non-governmental organizations in the field, often at great personal risk, especially when working in situations of armed conflict and exposed to direct violence, injury and risk of illness with limited access to medical and emergency facilities, Commending also the courage and commitment of those who take part in peace operations, including peacekeeping operations, 7 often at great personal risk, especially national and locally recruited personnel, Noting with concern the evolving threats that United Nations personnel face when deployed and that, in 2017, 1,473 persons were affected by safety and security incidents, with 22 fatalities, of which 9 resulted from acts of violence, namely, crime, acts of terrorism and armed conflict, 181 injuries, of which 70 resulted from acts of violence, 8 abductions, 63 arrests and detentions and 316 reported cases of intimidation and harassment, 8 and noting that these figures do not include United Nations personnel who are not part of the United Nations security management system, such as locally recruited area staff of UNRWA, of whom 8 were injured, 21 were arrested and detained and 109 reported cases of intimidation and harassment in 2017, 9 Strongly condemning all acts of violence, attacks and threats against humanitarian personnel, expressing profound regret at the deaths, injuries and __________________ 7 8 9 18-22064 The safety and security of United Nations peacekeepers is specifically addressed in the annual report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations ( Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-first Session, Supplement No. 19 (A/71/19)). Except where otherwise specified, the present resolution focuses only on the safety and security of civilian United Nations and associated personnel falling under the United Nations security management system under the responsibility of the Department of Safety and Security of the Secretariat. See A/73/392, A/73/392/Corr.1 and A/73/392/Corr.2, annexes I and III. Ibid., annex V. 3/11