United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged governments and authorities across the globe to immediately free 118 UN staff members currently being held in detention.
The appeal was made in a statement marking the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members, highlighting growing risks faced by humanitarian workers.
According to the UN, arrests and detentions of its personnel have surged sharply. In 2025 alone, 179 UN staff members have reportedly been detained, compared to just 52 cases recorded earlier in March.
A significant portion of these cases is concentrated in Yemen, where 73 UN employees remain in custody under the control of Houthi authorities. Among them are eight officials from the UN Human Rights Office.
Guterres emphasized that the organization remains committed to its detained staff, stating that “no colleague is forgotten.” He also called on UN Member States to respect international law and guarantee safe conditions for humanitarian operations.
He stressed that UN personnel operate in some of the world’s most volatile regions, including Gaza, Afghanistan, Sudan, Yemen, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where access to aid is critical.
President of the UN General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, condemned the detentions, describing them as violations of international law and diplomatic protections.
She noted that such actions disrupt humanitarian missions and delay essential aid to vulnerable populations. “UN workers should never be targeted,” Baerbock said, underscoring their role in saving lives globally.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, also expressed concern over the prolonged detention of staff in Yemen. Some individuals, he revealed, have been held for as long as five years.
Türk described the situation as unjust and deeply distressing for both detainees and their families. He called on Houthi authorities to release all detained UN workers immediately and without conditions.
He further reiterated that UN staff must not be prosecuted or detained for carrying out their humanitarian duties in conflict zones.
The observance of the International Day of Solidarity commemorates the 1985 abduction of Alec Collett, a journalist working with the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). His remains were discovered in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley in 2009.
The day serves as a global reminder to demand justice, protect humanitarian workers, and strengthen international commitment to their safety.
