Draft:PH 2026

Submission declined on 29 April 2026 by Cosmic840 (talk).

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Declined by Cosmic840 3 months ago. Last edited by Citation bot 3 months ago. Reviewer: Inform author.

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Protect Humanitarians is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Brussels (Belgium) and founded in 2024 by Belgian humanitarian worker:^[1]Olivier Vandecasteele.

The organization advocates for increased protection, accountability, and support for humanitarian personnel (affected by violence, attacks, or critical incidents while carrying out humanitarian missions worldwide).^[2] The NGO promotes Duty of Care best practices for staff and volunteers on the frontlines, provides Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) and legal advice to humanitarians and NGO's. Protect Humanitarians also advocates for justice alongside victims and survivors of attacks.

The NGO operates as a neutral and independent NGO and is supported by King Baudouin Foundation^[3], European Union (DG ECHO - European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations) and the generosity of individuals.

Protect Humanitarians is part of the "Protect Aid Workers" (PAW) rapid-response mechanism which is supported by European Union (DG ECHO - European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations) and implemented in collaboration with Global Interagency Security Forum and Legal Action Worldwide.

Background

Olivier Vandecasteele founded Protect Humanitarians ("a lifeline of an idea"^[4]) following his arbitrary detention in Iran between February 2022 and May 2023, an experience widely described as a case of state hostage diplomacy. After his release, Vandecasteele publicly emphasized the lack of collective protection mechanisms and post-incident support for humanitarian workers, particularly local staff working in high-risk environments. ^[1]^[4]

The organization was formally and publicly launched on March 14th 2024 (official start of the media campaign), amid record levels of violence against humanitarian personnel worldwide. According to the Aid Worker Security Database, 2023 was the deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers, with more than 500 aid workers killed, injured, or abducted globally.^[2] ^[5]

Mission and Objectives

Protect Humanitarians aims to strengthen both prevention and response mechanisms related to attacks on humanitarian personnel. Its core objectives include ^[2] ^[6]

Advocating for better protection and support for humanitarian personnel (under international humanitarian law) :
- Promoting Duty of Care best practices for staff and volunteers on the frontlines,
- Raising public and political awareness regarding attacks against humanitarian actors.
Providing direct support to survivors of critical incidents and to victims’ families :
- Providing Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) to humanitarians and NGO's.
Combating impunity for perpetrators of violence against aid workers :
- Provinding legal advice to humanitarians and NGO's.

Activities

Emergency Support and Assistance

Through an emergency fund^[3] managed by the King Baudouin Foundation, Protect Humanitarians provides medical, psychological, material, and legal support to humanitarian workers affected by kidnappings, severe violence, or other critical incidents. Applications for support are assessed on a case-by-case basis. ^[3] ^[6]

The fund also supports NGOs and organizations requiring urgent assistance for their staff following attacks or security incidents. ^[7] ^[1]

Advocacy and Awareness

Protect Humanitarians functions as an advocacy platform, promoting media attention and collective responses in cases involving attacks or abductions of humanitarian workers. The organization engages with policymakers, academic institutions, and international NGOs to promote systemic improvements in humanitarian worker protection.^[2] ^[8]

Research, Learning, and Best Practices

The NGO develops and supports inter-organizational research and learning initiatives focusing on staff care, mental health (MHPSS), Duty of Care, and legal assistance after critical incidents. It collaborates with academic partners and humanitarian organizations to enhance evidence-based approaches to staff protection and recovery. ^[8] ^[6]

Governance and Partnerships

Protect Humanitarians is supported by the King Baudouin Foundation (which manages the associated fund and ensures governance and compliance), the European Union (DG ECHO - European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations) and the generosity of individuals.

The NGO collaborates with a.o. humanitarian NGOs, research institutions, universities and advocacy organizations in Europe and internationally.

You can follow its activities online via its website or its social media pages : X (ex-Twitter), Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn).

Reference

1 2 3 "Freed Belgian aid worker sets up fund to 'protect the protectors'". POLITICO. 2024-03-14. Retrieved 2026-04-29.
1 2 3 4 "Protect Humanitarians: an alliance aimed at strengthening protection and support for humanitarian actors in the field - Press release". 14 March 2024.
1 2 3 "Protect Humanitarians (Fund) - King Baudouin Foundation".
1 2 "Une idée comme une bouée de sauvetage".
↑ "Olivier Vandecasteele lance l'initiative "Protect Humanitarians" pour protéger ses pairs". RTL Info (in French). 2024-03-14. Retrieved 2026-04-29.
1 2 3 "Protect Humanitarians website".
↑ Crew, Sarah (2024-03-14). "Olivier Vandecasteele launches new fund to support humanitarian workers". The Bulletin. Retrieved 2026-04-29.
1 2 "Better protection and support for humanitarian workers worldwide". www.news.uliege.be. Retrieved 2026-04-29.

[:0-1] 1 2 3 "Freed Belgian aid worker sets up fund to 'protect the protectors'". POLITICO. 2024-03-14. Retrieved 2026-04-29.

[:1-2] 1 2 3 4 "Protect Humanitarians: an alliance aimed at strengthening protection and support for humanitarian actors in the field - Press release". 14 March 2024.

[:2-3] 1 2 3 "Protect Humanitarians (Fund) - King Baudouin Foundation".

[:3-4] 1 2 "Une idée comme une bouée de sauvetage".

[5] "Olivier Vandecasteele lance l'initiative "Protect Humanitarians" pour protéger ses pairs". RTL Info (in French). 2024-03-14. Retrieved 2026-04-29.

[:4-6] 1 2 3 "Protect Humanitarians website".

[7] Crew, Sarah (2024-03-14). "Olivier Vandecasteele launches new fund to support humanitarian workers". The Bulletin. Retrieved 2026-04-29.

[:5-8] 1 2 "Better protection and support for humanitarian workers worldwide". www.news.uliege.be. Retrieved 2026-04-29.

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