MONROVIA – Liberia has formally joined a global effort to enhance the safety and protection of humanitarian personnel by signing the Declaration on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel on September 22, 2025. The signing ceremony took place on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The declaration is a critical new international instrument that reinforces existing laws and seeks to make aid workers safer, particularly local and national staff who often face the most significant danger in conflict zones. It adds to a growing number of international agreements aimed at protecting aid workers.
The Declaration was championed by a ministerial group of countries, including Australia, Jordan, Switzerland, Indonesia, Sierra Leone, the United Kingdom, Japan, Brazil, and Colombia. These nations worked together to draft a non-binding but politically significant statement that calls on all states to uphold international humanitarian law and protect those delivering aid.
The move comes at a time when attacks on humanitarian personnel have reached record highs. The year 2024 was the deadliest on record for aid workers, and 2025 is on track to surpass that number. The declaration aims to reverse this deadly trend by promoting accountability for attacks on aid workers and ensuring that those responsible are brought to justice.
By signing the declaration, Liberia is reaffirming its commitment to international law and joining a collective effort to ensure that humanitarian action can continue unimpeded. The document specifically calls for states to:
Uphold international humanitarian law.
Facilitate safe and unhindered humanitarian access.
Strengthen protection frameworks, especially for national and local staff.
Ensure accountability for violations against humanitarian personnel.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Liberia’s endorsement of the declaration aligns with the country’s own experiences and its dedication to promoting peace and human rights.
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