World Humanitarian Day and forthcoming events in Brussels

Forthcoming events in Brussels on Thursday the 2nd of September in connection with the commemoration of the Day:            

• Press breakfast/conference by UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia (incl. Pakistan) Mr Daniel Toole
  at 10:15 AM – UNRIC – Residence Palace, rue de la Loi 155
• Panel Discussion on “Security and Humanitarian workers”
  At 13:00-14:30 – UNRIC-Residence Palace, rue de la Loi 155
• CINE-ONU on “Sergio”, HBO Film dedicated to Sergio Vierra de Mello
  At 18:30 - Goethe-Institut and UNRIC, Rue Belliard 58

Background

In a resolution in December 2008, the General Assembly designated 19 August as World Humanitarian Day (A/RES/63/139). World Humanitarian Day is in part dedicated to the memory of all those aid workers, who have lost their lives while bringing assistance to others, the majority of them from the communities they are trying to help. 19 August 2003 is the date on which a brutal terrorist attack on UN headquarters in Baghdad killed 22 people, including UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello.
There are three main areas of focus for the commemoration of the day:

• To draw attention to humanitarian needs worldwide;
• To explain, in simple, visual terms what humanitarian aid work entails;
• To remember those who have lost their lives in humanitarian service.

Message of the Secretary-General for World Humanitarian Day 2010

For more information and all the films, materials and messages relating to World Humanitarian Day 2010, please visithttp://www.worldhumanitarianday.info.