Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, delegates, humanitarians, friends.
The United Nations is where we come together to agree and uphold the rules which protect us all.
And these rules matter - never more so than in times of war.
And every country must abide by them.
They limit human suffering in conflict and make us all safer.
But many of these rules are being broken.
And in recent years, we have seen conflicts become entrenched, humanitarian crises worsened, civilians killed and injured.
And the aid workers who dedicate their lives to protecting civilians killed, wounded or kidnapped.
In Sudan, South Sudan, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Myanmar, in Yemen, in Ukraine and in Gaza.
2024, the deadliest year on record for aid workers, more than 380 killed, many more wounded or kidnapped.
And this year, 2025 is on track to be even worse.
This trend signifies that respect for the rules and norms that are needed for the protection of humanitarian personnel are at risk.
Calls for compliance with international humanitarian law are not being heard.
Australia felt this deeply last April, with the IDF's strike against World Central Kitchen vehicles, which killed Australian Zomi Frankcom and her colleagues.
More than a year on, her family are still searching for answers.
And I acknowledge the presence of Zomi's brother Mal, and thank him for being here today.
And this family is not alone. More than 500 aid workers have been killed in Gaza since the start of the conflict.
It is the most dangerous place on earth to be an aid worker.
Just one year ago, my colleagues, the Foreign Ministers of Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Sierra Leone, Switzerland and the United Kingdom met with a common purpose.
To rededicate ourselves to protect those who protect and support others.
We wanted to ensure that the tragic deaths of humanitarian workers like Zomi Frankcom and her colleagues are not in vain and do not continue.
And over the past year, we have worked together and with humanitarian leaders to develop this new Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel.
A Declaration we launch here today, it renews our commitment at the highest political level to protect aid workers in conflict zones.
It upholds international humanitarian law.
It calls for safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access.
It envisions enhanced protection frameworks, particularly for national staff bearing disproportionate risk.
And it supports accountability mechanisms to end the cycle of impunity and to bring justice.
I want to thank from the bottom of my heart, the more than 100 countries who have joined us in this commitment and endorsed this Declaration.
And to support its implementation, Australia will provide $15 million in practical measures to support aid workers to deliver assistance.
Friends, behind me we see on this North Lawn of the United Nations, we see 674 ribbons.
Each represents a humanitarian worker who has been killed since the beginning of 2024.
Each a daughter, a son, or a sister, a mother or a father, a partner or a friend, each loved and missed by those who have lost them.
And each was a person who dedicated themselves to delivering life-saving food, water, medicine and shelter to those in need.
These humanitarian workers, these aid workers, are the best of humanity, and their selfless devotion to improving the lives of others should not cost them their own.
Thank you.
