New York - Sana'a: Europe and the Arabs
United Nations staff around the world serve the most vulnerable and needy people, and in doing so, in conflict and crisis settings, they bear enormous risks to their personal safety as they face threats of kidnapping, violence, harassment, and detention. According to the United Nations Daily News Bulletin, which added, "In light of the increasing challenges facing humanitarian workers, the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members (25 March) highlights the grave risks faced by United Nations and humanitarian personnel, particularly in Yemen, where many UN staff have been detained by the de facto Houthi authorities since 2021.
A Call Not to Forget
The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr. Philomon Yang, emphasized the need not to forget the dozens of missing or detained staff members. He added, "In Yemen, 23 UN staff members, along with many other humanitarian workers, remain detained—some for more than three years. One UN aid worker from the World Food Programme died while in detention.
The President of the General Assembly—which comprises all 193 UN member states—called for the immediate and unconditional release of all UN staff detained in Yemen and elsewhere.
He added: “Our detained colleagues have dedicated themselves to educating children, providing vital medical and food assistance to millions, and promoting peace and dialogue. Their work must be protected. I stand in full solidarity with all those detained.” They must be released and protected.
It is worth noting that the staff members detained in Yemen are all national staff and, prior to their detention, worked with UN agencies and other international organizations, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Development Programme, UNICEF, UNESCO, the World Food Programme, CARE, Save the Children, and Oxfam.
Risks in Service
UN Secretary-General António Guterres noted that last year alone, 101 UN staff members were arrested or detained worldwide. At least 52 UN personnel remain in detention. “Locally recruited staff are particularly vulnerable,” the Secretary-General said.
“We stand in solidarity with all those detained, their families, and their loved ones,” he said, calling for their immediate release and safe return home.
Strengthening Support and Protection
Guterres urged governments to ensure the safety and security of UN staff and to pursue justice for crimes committed against them, while ensuring accountability. Strengthening support and protection. He called on all States to fulfill their obligations under international conventions related to the protection of UN personnel.
He added: "Together, we must strive to protect those who serve humanity and help build a better, safer world for all."
About the International Day
The International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members marks the anniversary of the abduction of Alec Collett, a former journalist working for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) when he was abducted by gunmen in 1985. His body was found in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley in 2009.
The International Day serves as an occasion to mobilize efforts, demand justice, and strengthen the resolve to protect UN personnel, peacekeepers, colleagues in the non-governmental community, and the press.