United Nations Honors Female Aid Workers On Tenth Anniversary Of World Humanitarian Day

As Eleanor Roosevelt once said,“For evil to flourish, it only requires good men to do nothing.” Fortunately, there are people who have made it their life's mission to proactively combat evil.

Every day, hundreds of thousands of humanitarian workers across the globe put their lives at risk to take action against corruption, disasters, and violence; of those workers, 250,000 are women. Aid work has become increasingly dangerous with over 4,500 aid workers killed, injured, detained, assaulted or kidnapped while carrying out work since 2003. Women humanitarians are at particularly high risk of robbery, sexual assault and other violence.

Today, in honor of these workers, the United Nations recognizes the tenth anniversary of World Humanitarian Day, with special tribute to women humanitarians and the contributions they make for millions of civilians in need.

Women’s role in humanitarian leadership is crucial. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “From supporting civilians caught up in crisis to addressing disease outbreaks, women humanitarians are on the front lines. Their presence makes aid operations more effective by increasing their reach.”

UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Ursula Mueller noted that “When women are involved in every part of humanitarian action and in decision making, the humanitarian response is more cost-effective, efficient and inclusive. Women bring different perspectives and solutions, and are able to give a voice to women and girls in conflict situations where they are not protected.”

The UN aims to achieve gender parity by 2020 in all humanitarian coordination positions, but as Mueller said, “it’s not just about numbers and getting positions, it’s about making sure women are respected for their professional backgrounds and their leadership ability.”

Through its global campaign, #WomenHumanitarians, The UN sets out to show us, hour by hour, through a 24-hour period, 24 real life stories of exceptional women at the front lines of humanitarian work.

First, there is Malka Mohammed, living and working in war-torn Yemen. Malka has been directly impacted by attacks on her city, but instead of retreating in fear, she is up early, at 5:00AM every day to make sure children can still go to school even as the attacks continue.

Then, there is Flavia Muniz who works to create safe spaces for migrant Venezuelans seeking refuge in Brazil. In the shelters of Boa Vista, Flavia has a first-hand look at the emotional and physical scars of women seeking a safe place. With a donation from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund, these women have received psychosocial support, emergency cash assistance and learning opportunities.

Finally, there is Gintare Eidimtaite and Steffania Trassari. Late at night while their counterparts across the world might be relaxing at a bar with friends or settling in for the night with families, these two dedicated healthcare workers are preparing the protective gear they will wear tomorrow as they continue to fight the ebola virus in West Africa.

In addition to highlighting the remarkable achievements of women aid workers, the UN campaign also serves as a call to action to take action against gender-based violence that is so often used a tool of war and conflict.

What motivates them to continue humanitarian work? According to Mueller, “It is the fundamental desire to contribute to humanity and to further social justice. They believe in human values and respect for individuals, and it is a noble cause despite all the risk and insecurities.”

What can you do to contribute and protect humanitarian workers? Mueller gives three suggestions:

  1. Share the 24 remarkable stories of the female humanitarian workers with #WHD2019
  2. Point out violations of humanitarian law. “There is continuing erosion of respect for humanitarian law; those laws protect citizens, so next time you see people suffering on TV, fighting in Yemen, use your voice to speak up.”
  3. Donate to a UN agency or organization you feel is producing results, and has a mandate to contribute to humanitarian assistance. Mueller suggests UN CERF, which provides funds to underfunded emergencies.

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