Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel signed by more than 100 governments

This week at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 80), over 100 governments signed onto the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel. The signatories committed to reversing the deadly trends impacting the safety and security of humanitarian personnel.

Importantly, the Declaration acknowledges the vital role that mental health and wellbeing play in the protection of humanitarian personnel. Signatories committed to,

“Provide support that allows international, national and local humanitarian personnel to access timely and relevant information, training and systems, to promote measures to support the physical and mental well-being of humanitarian personnel.”

Humanitarians are at significant psychological risk due to the insecurity and threats they face while delivering services. 2024 marked the deadliest year for humanitarian personnel, with more than 380 aid workers killed worldwide and many more kidnapped, detained, or wounded. In just the first eight months of 2025, 265 aid workers have already been killed.

In addition to physical insecurity, humanitarian personnel are at significant risk of mental health challenges due to:

⚠️  Traumatic events, including witnessing death, injury, or human suffering

🔄  High workloads, often in chaotic, under-resourced environments

🏡  Long-term separation from family and support networks

❤️‍🩹  Moral distress and injury, especially when unable to meet overwhelming needs

🧩  Organizational stress, resulting from poor leadership, lack of job clarity, or insufficient support.

These challenges require comprehensive mental health and wellbeing solutions and signatories of this important Declaration can begin to put their words into action by:

1. Working with implementing partners to establish minimum operating standards for mental health and wellbeing services for humanitarian personnel,
2. Requesting implementing partners to incorporate plans to provide comprehensive and culturally appropriate mental health support for staff in their proposal narratives and budgets, and
3. Funding comprehensive and culturally competent mental health services for humanitarian actors.

As a company that was founded in 2007 to support humanitarian and development organizations and their staff, KonTerra applauds signatories’ efforts to protect those who protect others.

The full text of the Declaration can be found here.