World Humanitarian Day is an international day dedicated to recognize humanitarian personnel and those who have died working for humanitarian causes. It was designated by the

United Nations General Assembly The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA or GA; , AGNU or AG) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN), serving as its main deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ. Currently in its Seventy-ninth session of th ...

as part of a Swedish-sponsored General Assembly Resolution on "Strengthening of the Coordination of Emergency Assistance of the United Nations," and designated 19 August as World Humanitarian Day for the purpose of "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." It marks the day on which the then Special Representative of the

Secretary-General Secretary is a title often used in organizations to indicate a person having a certain amount of authority, Power (social and political), power, or importance in the organization. Secretaries announce important events and communicate to the org ...

to Iraq, Sérgio Vieira de Mello and 21 of his colleagues were killed in the bombing of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad.

History

A national of Brazil, Sérgio Vieira de Mello was killed in the Canal Hotel bombing in

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

along with 21 other members of his staff on 19 August 2003 while working as

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is a department of the United Nations Secretariat that works to promote and protect human rights that are guaranteed under international law and stipulated in the Univer ...

, with the rank of

Under-Secretary-General An under-secretary-general of the United Nations (USG) is a senior official within the United Nations System, normally appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the secretary-general for a renewable term of four years. Under-s ...

, and United Nations Special Representative for Iraq. Before his death, he was considered a likely candidate for

UN Secretary-General The secretary-general of the United Nations (UNSG or UNSECGEN) is the chief administrative officer of the United Nations and head of the United Nations Secretariat, one of the United Nations System#Six principal organs, six principal organs of ...

. The Sérgio Vieira de Mello Foundation and his family worked with the Ambassadors of France, Switzerland, Japan, and Brazil to steer the draft Resolution through the General Assembly. World Humanitarian Day was commemorated for the first time on 19 August 2009.

References

External links

World Humanitarian Day

The Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation

The General Assembly of the United Nations
{{Humanitarian Aid, state=collapsed August observances United Nations days International observances

History

See also

References

External links