Opening Ceremony of the Global Protection Forum 2022 - Remarks from OCHA

Humanitarian access, mandated by UN General Assembly resolution 46/182, refers to a twopronged concept, comprising humanitarian actors’ ability to reach populations in need and affected populations’ access to assistance and services.

Safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access is a fundamental prerequisite to effective humanitarian action, especially in situations of armed conflict, but also in the context of disasters and civil unrest.

Humanitarian access is a principled and negotiated business. In Resolution 1894, the Security Council underscored the importance of upholding the humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence. Compliance – or non-compliance - with these principles affects engage in negotiations with State and nonstate actors with the aim of reaching affected population.