World Humanitarian Day: Health care is not a privilege, it is a fundamental right
On 19 August, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) joined Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Canton of Geneva and Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) to unveil a mural by Swiss artists NEVERCREW at Parc des Chaumettes, in front of HUG.
The artwork highlights the devastating consequences of attacks on health-care workers, patients and facilities in conflict zones, and serves as a public reminder of the shared responsibility to uphold the principles of international humanitarian law (IHL). This initiative aims to engage the public, raise awareness about the critical need to protect health care, remind states and all parties to conflict of their responsibilities and underline Geneva’s role as a place for humanitarian action.
Speaking at the event, Yasmine Praz, ICRC’s director of operations, said: "Health care is not a privilege. It is a fundamental right. It must be protected, everywhere, without exception. The rules are clear. Hospitals, patients, caregivers and medical transports are granted special protection under international humanitarian law. These rules are not optional. They are obligations.”
This year’s commemoration also marked the 10th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 2286, which condemned attacks on health care in armed conflict and reaffirmed states’ obligations under IHL.
Yet, a decade later, the humanitarian community continues to witness the tragic consequences of these violations: hospitals destroyed, medical staff endangered, millions of people deprived of life-saving care and humanitarian workers killed
In 2025, 32 Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and staff lost their lives, with another 12 killed in violence-related incidents while carrying out their work in the first half of 2026. Each loss represents more than an individual: it deprives entire communities of care, protection and hope. The ICRC, MSF, WHO and their partners call on states and all parties to conflict to translate their commitments into concrete action. Protecting health care requires more than words. It demands accountability and decisive measures to ensure that medical care remains safe and accessible.
On this World Humanitarian Day, we honour the courage and dedication of those who risk their lives to save others. Their work is essential and protecting them is a responsibility we all share.
