Aid Worker Security Report 2024 – Balancing advocacy and security in humanitarian action

In a year marked by high civilian casualties and record numbers of ​​aid workers killed, the question of how to hold warring parties accountable for their duty to protect and facilitate humanitarian relief efforts has become more urgent and elusive.

Trends in security incidents highlight the growing role that state actors play in the violence affecting aid workers, suggesting a further erosion of international humanitarian law and a shrinking of security within humanitarian operations.

In Gaza, Sudan, and other conflicts, concerted humanitarian advocacy efforts with governments – both public and behind the scenes – have resulted in little change in policy and tactics. Far from protecting and facilitating humanitarian aid, militaries have repeatedly obstructed and endangered it. Global efforts to address the problem of violence against aid workers through UN resolutions and international media campaigns like #NotATarget, have also not managed to slow the continued upward trend of global casualty numbers.

This year’s Aid Worker Security Report examines the challenge faced by aid workers attempting to practise humanitarian advocacy: how and where it has been effective, when and why it has failed, and what risks it potentially poses to personnel and operations.