University News Last updated 19 August 2013
Today is the UN World Humanitarian Day, and it is dedicated to those who face danger and adversity in helping protect human rights. The 19 August 2013 marks 10 years since the tragic 2003 bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, in which 22 people died. On this day the world community pauses and reflects upon this, and other, gross human rights violations.
The UN General Assembly adopted Resolution for the Strengthening of the Coordination of Emergency Humanitarian Assistance of the United Nations, 63/139 5 March 2009, and paragraph 26 states:
"Decides to designate 19 August as World Humanitarian Day in order to contribute to increasing public awareness about humanitarian assistance activities worldwide and the importance of international cooperation in this regard, as well as to honour all humanitarian and United Nations and associated personnel who have worked in the promotion of the humanitarian cause and those who have lost their lives in the cause of duty, and invites all Member States and the entities of the United Nations system, within existing resources, as well as other international organisations and non-governmental organisations, to observe it annually in an appropriate manner."
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that on the World Humanitarian Day, "We commemorate [the aid workers'] sacrifice and reaffirm our commitment to the lifesaving work that humanitarians carry out around the world every day, often in difficult and dangerous circumstances, where others cannot or do not want to go. This year our World Humanitarian Day campaign is calling people to answer a question: 'What do you think the world needs more of?"
Visit the United Nations World Humanitarian Day campaign website and participate in the day, see also Dr Jon Yorke’s blog post on the World Humanitarian Day.
As a law student at BCU you will have an opportunity to engage with human rights issues, and participate in protecting them around the world.
For more information on BCU Law School’s human rights programmes contact Dr Jon Yorke and follow him on twitter.