The global humanitarian system has never faced a greater threat. At the same time as donor
resources and commitment are dwindling in the face of unprecedented demand, the rules
that underpin our ability to provide assistance are being eroded without serious challenge.
Only 18% of the global humanitarian funding needed has been received, whilst 300 million
people are expected to require humanitarian assistance this year alone.
International humanitarian law is being defied in all corners of the globe. Accountability
mechanisms are not being applied even-handedly despite the number of violations becoming
more and more difficult to count. The rules and norms which keep frontline responders and
civilians safe are losing effect. No matter how much humanitarian workers put measures in
place to protect themselves and civilians, the structures keeping them safe are breaking
down.
Our world requires leadership which has the moral integrity and vision to course-correct and
uphold our fundamental values. We also must do so to make sure that the international rules
and norms we rely on and benefit from, are respected.
We, the undersigned, call on the Australian Government to uphold its obligations under the
Geneva Conventions and ensure accountability where these are breached by others. In doing
so, we are calling on the government to put humanity and its commitment to international
humanitarian law first.
We must do this to be on the right side of history when future generations look back on this
time period and ask what we did to protect civilians and those working to protect them.
We call on you to make a Safer World for All.
Signed by:
Claire Moore Former Australian Labor Party Senator
Melissa Parke Executive Director, ICAN Australia; Former Australian Labor Party Minister
for International Development
Sharan Burrow AC Former President, Australian Council of Trade Unions
Professor Erika Feller AO Former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Professor John Langmore Former Australian Labor Party Member of Parliament
Professor Brendan Crabb AC Director & CEO, Burnet Institute
Correna Haythorpe Federal President, Australian Education Union.
Emeline Gaske Assistant National Secretary, Australian Services Union.
Reverend Tim Costello AO Executive Director, Micah Australia
Sophie McNeill Journalist
Mem Fox AM Australian childrens author
Mark Seymour
Hayley Panetta
Australian singer-songwriter
Executive Director of Impact Missions, Minderoo Foundation
Dr Greg Clarke CEO, The Leprosy Mission Australia
Ian Wishart CEO, Fred Hollows Foundation
Tony Stuart CEO, UNICEF Australia
Dr Tilman Ruff AM Founding Australian Chair International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear
Weapons, Nobel Peaze Price winner
Professor Stuart Rees AM. Founder, Sydney Peace Foundation
Marc Purcell CEO, Australian Council for International Development
Michael Stolz CEO, Australian Lutheran World Service
Dr Selina Namchee Lo Executive Director, Global Health Alliance
Greg Bondar Managing Director, Every Home Global Concern
Doug Lees CEO, SurfAid
Nayomi Kannangara CEO, International Womens Development Agency
Marijke Frantzen CEO, Kyeema Foundation
Greg Budworth Group Managing Director, Home in Place
Denison Grellman CEO, Adventist Development and Relief Agency Australia
Dr. Andrew Catford CEO, International Needs Australia
Noel Harvey OAM Chairman, Symbiosis International
Chris Sidoti Commissioner, United Nations Human Rights Council
Susanne Legena CEO, Plan International Australia
Melanie Morrison Director, Sydney Peace Foundation
Matthew Maury CEO, Tearfund Australia
Sondra Cortis Chief Financial Officer, Westpac Institutional Bank
Shane Nichols CEO, Good Return
Tina Newton Director, Salesian Missions Australia
Matt Ralston Chief Operating Officer, Nossel Institute
Professor Cathy Vaughan Director, Nossal Institute
Patrick Earle Chair, Diplomacy Training Program
Michael do Rozario Partner, Corrs
Christian Nielsen Executive Director, Live & Learn Environmental Education Australia
Rev David Fotheringham Moderator, Uniting Church in Australia Synod of Victoria and Tasmania
Dr Jane Fulton Director for Philanthropy, Sydney Peace Foundation
Charli English CEO, Oaktree
Professor Catherine Chamberlain Indigenous Health Equity
Tom Muller CEO, WaterAid
Melanie Gow CEO, Australian Volunteers International
Julie Chamblin Chair, Australian Volunteers International
Paul Power CEO, Refugee Council of Australia
Dr Sureka Goringe National Director, Uniting World
Dr Helen Durham AM CEO, RedR Australia
Dr Sue Wareham OAM President,Medical Association for the Prevention of War
Dr Michael Keem Medical Association for the Prevention of War
Associate Professor Mary-Ana
McGlasson
Director, Centre for Humanitarian Leadership
Robert Yallop AM Former Head of International Operations, CARE Australia
Fr Peter Carroll SDB Salesians of Don Bosco, Australia-Pacific Province
Lizzie Murray Founder, A Liquid Future
Richard Reeve CEO, The International Nepal Fellowship Australia
Rev Faaimata Havea Hiliau Moderator of the NSW & ACT Synod of the Uniting Church in Australia.
Adjunct Professor Susan Pascoe AM Chair, Australian Council for International Development
Sam Klintworth National Director, Amnesty International Australia
Jane Edge CEO, CBM AustraliA
