Can I thank you all for coming to discuss how we can ensure greater protection for aid workers in conflict zones around the world.
All of you are here because no one understands that problem more than you.
As you would know, 2023 was the deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers, with more than 280 killed. Many more wounded or kidnapped.
And 2024 is on track to be even worse.
I can say to you as Australia's Foreign Minister, we are deeply concerned by this trend.
For us it signifies that the rules for the protection of humanitarian workers are at risk, with consequences for current and future conflicts.
It signifies that calls for compliance with international humanitarian law are not being heard.
Over the past few years, we have seen aid workers killed, wounded or kidnapped in conflicts across the world - in Sudan and South Sudan, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Yemen, in Ukraine and in Gaza.
Gaza is the most dangerous place on earth to be an aid worker.
Australia felt this deeply with the IDF's strike against World Central Kitchen vehicles, which killed Australian Zomi Frankcom and her colleagues.
I thank Chef Andres for being here and again, our condolences for her loss.
Regrettably, this was not a one-off incident. More than 300 aid workers have been killed since the start of the conflict.
The reason we have asked you to come here is we want to ensure that those tragic deaths are not in vain and do not continue.
We do think this is the time where the international community should rededicate ourselves to the protection of aid workers in conflict zones like Gaza.
We are bringing together a group of influential countries to pursue a Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel.
I will be meeting foreign ministers of those countries later today.
We want to galvanise international pressure in upholding the international law which protects workers who dedicate their lives to protecting civilians.
I want this initiative to connect principles to action. Australians are very practical. We want to make a practical difference to the safety and security of workers.
I have asked you all here, and I am very grateful that you have come because I want to hear from you.
Before we meet with ministers, we want to meet with this group which represents a cohort of people who frankly are the best of us.
People who go into conflict zones, in the toughest of circumstances to protect civilians, to alleviate human suffering and deliver lifesaving support.
You can't protect civilians if you don't protect the aid workers.
I asked you here so you can talk with us frankly about what you need to protect your staff and deliver on your mandates.
There are two particular things I would ask you to turn your minds to:
- What are the main gaps in protection that you are seeing on the ground? And how is this impacting on safety and security, and your ability to operate in conflict zones?
- And secondly, what practical action would you like to see member states commit to in such a declaration?
I look forward to our discussion.
