World · · 3 min read
UN event to focus on diplomacy and civilian protection in war
A ministerial meeting in New York will examine how diplomacy can protect civilians, aid workers and humanitarian law amid continuing armed conflicts.
Diplomats, humanitarian leaders and civil-society representatives will meet on 21 September 2026 for a European Union-backed discussion on protecting civilians and aid workers in armed conflicts. The 90-minute ministerial side event will be co-hosted by the EU Delegation to the United Nations, the permanent missions of Ireland, Jordan, Canada and Brazil, and the African Union.
The meeting will focus on humanitarian diplomacy and the need to preserve international humanitarian law, which sets limits on the conduct of war and establishes protections for civilians and others affected by conflict. The announcement was published by the European External Action Service, the EU’s diplomatic service.
A worsening environment for civilians
The humanitarian community is dealing with roughly 130 armed conflicts worldwide, according to the event organisers. The announcement points to repeated breaches of international humanitarian law and human rights, including attacks on civilians and damage to homes, hospitals, schools, water networks, energy facilities and the natural environment.
It also warns that language designed to strip people of their humanity is weakening public respect for both the laws of war and humanitarian work. In many conflicts, organisations face difficulty reaching people who need assistance. Political decisions and changing conditions on the battlefield can restrict access, even when humanitarian needs are urgent.
Aid workers themselves are also being deliberately attacked. Their safety is central to the delivery of assistance, making threats against them a direct obstacle to humanitarian operations as well as a danger to individuals working in conflict zones.
The organisers describe today’s wars as increasingly fragmented. Some territories are divided among several authorities or controlled by non-state armed groups, while frontlines move and basic infrastructure collapses. These conditions make it harder for outside actors to negotiate access, maintain contact with all relevant parties and secure protection for civilians.
What humanitarian diplomacy can do
The event’s organisers argue that diplomatic engagement can help prevent conflicts from worsening, open or restore routes for humanitarian assistance and create space for dialogue. It can also support ceasefires and contribute to political efforts aimed at resolving wars and other episodes of violence.
A further goal is to strengthen understanding of international humanitarian law and encourage compliance with it. Diplomacy can bring attention to violations, press for accountability and reinforce the principle that civilians must not be treated as legitimate targets. The meeting is intended to clarify the responsibilities of UN member states and the wider international community in these efforts.
Rather than being limited to a formal series of speeches, the programme is designed around a moderated discussion. Ministers, agency leaders, humanitarian organisations and civil-society representatives are expected to offer focused proposals. Ministers may make two-minute interventions from the floor, while other representatives will have one minute. Principals may attend with one member of their team.
Participants listed for the meeting
The programme identifies the Queen of the Belgians for opening remarks. Introductory and other contributions are associated with Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and a vice-president of the European Commission; Ayman Safadi, Jordan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister; and Hadja Lahbib, the European commissioner responsible for equality, preparedness and crisis management.
Other listed participants include Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross; Anita Anand, Canada’s foreign minister; a high-level representative of Brazil; and Amma Twum Amoah, the African Union Commission’s commissioner for health, humanitarian affairs and social development.
The line-up also names Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah of KSRelief, Tom Fletcher, the UN emergency relief coordinator and under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, and Carl Skau, acting executive director of the World Food Programme. Elie Dagher of the Lebanese Red Cross, Claudia Fuentes Julio, assistant secretary-general for human rights, and Petra Hoskovec of the Forum des Organisations Non Gouvernementales Internationales are also listed.
Helen McEntee, identified as Ireland’s minister for foreign affairs and trade and minister for defence, appears among the participants. Together, the range of officials and organisations reflects the event’s effort to connect diplomatic action with the practical work of protecting people and delivering aid during war.