Toespraak van Hare Majesteit de Koningin over Humanitaire Diplomatie

Address by Her Majesty the Queen of the Belgians

21 September 2026

International Humanitarian Law and Humanitarian Action

 

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

More than 117 million people around the world are confronted with the consequences of armed conflict.

Lives disrupted by violence, displacement, fear and loss.

Homes and livelihoods destroyed.

And with them, trust, social cohesion and hope for the future.

At the same time, humanitarian access is becoming harder.

Aid workers and convoys face growing risks.

And polarization and dehumanizing narratives are making it harder to protect the space for humanitarian action.

All of this puts humanitarian actors under growing pressure.

 

Let me ask you:

When did we stop putting human dignity first?

 

We must resist the current developments.

 

War has rules.

Human life and human dignity must be protected.

Humanitarian aid is a moral imperative and a fundamental expression of the universal values of humanity and solidarity.

 

In the face of such suffering, international humanitarian law must remain our compass.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The humanitarian sector is at a critical juncture.

 

There have always been points of tension around the core humanitarian principles.

Humanitarian actors always face operational challenges and dilemmas.

The principles of neutrality and independence, especially, are often misunderstood, in particular in the face of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

 

But there was a shared understanding that some boundaries must not be crossed. This was backed by international law requiring respect for international humanitarian law and the duty to prevent and alleviate suffering caused by armed conflict.

 

Today, this premise can no longer be taken for granted.

 

This is why humanitarian diplomacy is crucial. Humanitarian assistance is no longer solely an emergency response; we have to articulate it with diplomacy and development cooperation.

 

The concept itself is not new.

Every day, local humanitarian actors engage, patiently, with all parties, seeking dialogue, explaining the rules of war, building trust and creating opportunities for the trucks to be granted passage and the goods to be delivered. Local organizations, including women led organizations, are often the first to respond and among the last to leave. Their knowledge, commitment and proximity to communities are assets that deserve continued recognition and support.

Because we are increasingly seeing that states themselves become parties to conflicts, more is needed. And at the highest level.

 

Your Excellencies, at a time when conflicts are becoming more complex and humanitarian needs continue to grow, we need a renewed commitment to the principles that unite us. And which we collectively endorsed after one of the most horrific periods in human history.

 

Ladies and gentlemen,

 

We are at the beginning of the High Level Week.

Our collective responsibility is clear.

Every one of us can make a difference.

Thank you.