Olivier Vandecasteele, who was freed from an Iranian prison last year, is advocating for better protection of humanitarian workers on International Humanitarian Aid Day.
In 2022, Vandecasteele was arrested in Iran and sentenced to 40 years imprisonment following a sham trial. He was subsequently released a year later through a prisoner exchange.
He is the founder of Protect Humanitarians. The organisation, alongside Legal Aid Worldwide and Protect Aid Workers, is launching an appeal for support this Monday.
They report that violence against humanitarian aid workers has reached unprecedented levels. 2023 was the deadliest year for aid workers, with 595 falling victim to attacks of which 280 were killed. Local personnel were involved in 95% of these incidents.
The three abovementioned organisations are urging safety efforts to be escalated. They are calling for free legal aid for impacted humanitarian workers and their families. They are also advocating for increased investment in employee frameworks and mental health services, such as trauma therapy for survivors.
“Put victims and survivors of attacks at the forefront of advocacy. Their experiences can guide the development of more supportive strategies.”
