Local UN staff face significant risks in various parts of the world, especially in contexts marked by instability and conflict. In the past year, 101 arrests or detentions of Organization officials were recorded globally, highlighting the serious situation in which many of them operate. Among the most dangerous countries are Gaza, Sudan, Yemen, Haiti, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
On the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that these professionals carry out their work “at great personal risk,” constantly facing threats of kidnapping, violence, harassment, and detention. Guterres urged governments to ensure the safety of their personnel and seek justice for crimes committed against them. The demand for strict compliance with international conventions on the protection of UN personnel is a call that resonated in his message, emphasizing the need to protect those who serve humanity.
In Yemen, the situation is particularly critical; there, 23 UN officials are detained, some for over three years, under the control of Houthi authorities. This reality has also been denounced by Philémon Yang, President of the UN General Assembly, who highlighted that one of the workers of the World Food Program died while in custody. These detainees, who are part of the national staff, have been contributing to providing education, medical assistance, and food to communities in need, and their work must be defended with determination.
Additionally, on this commemorative day, the kidnapping of Alec Collett, a former journalist working for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, who disappeared in 1985 and whose body was found years later in Lebanon, is remembered. This anniversary underscores the urgency of mobilizing actions that demand justice and protect humanitarian workers, as well as UN peacekeepers and media professionals operating in adverse environments.
In light of this, the global call is clear: the international community must unite to safeguard those who dedicate their lives to humanitarian service, and work together to create a safer and fairer world for all. The security of UN personnel is a shared responsibility that requires concerted action and steadfastness in respecting human rights, particularly in regions affected by violence and injustice.
via: MiMub in Spanish
