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| World Humanitarian Day | |
|---|---|
| Also called | WHD |
| Observed by | UN Members |
| Date | 19 August |
| Next time | 19 August 2026 (2026-08-19) |
| Frequency | Annual |
| First time | 19 August 2009 |
World Humanitarian Day is aninternational day dedicated to recognize humanitarian personnel and those who have died working forhumanitarian causes. It was designated by theUnited Nations General Assembly 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."[1]
It marks the day on which the then Special Representative of theSecretary-General to Iraq,Sérgio Vieira de Mello and 21 of his colleagues were killed inthe bombing of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad.[2][3]
A national of Brazil,Sérgio Vieira de Mello was killed in theCanal Hotel bombing inIraq along with 21 other members of his staff on 19 August 2003 while working asUN High Commissioner for Human Rights, with the rank ofUnder-Secretary-General, andUnited Nations Special Representative for Iraq. Before his death, he was considered a likely candidate forUN Secretary-General.[4][5]
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.[citation needed]
World Humanitarian Day was commemorated for the first time on 19 August 2009.
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