Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
5th Report - Protection not permission: The UK’s role in upholding international humanitarian law and supporting the safe delivery of humanitarian aid
International Development Committee
HC 526
Published 12 June 2025
Recommendations
16
Acknowledged
Condemn IHL breaches consistently, irrespective of diplomatic relationships with offending parties.
Recommendation
As part of the UK’s leadership role, the Government must be ready to call out actions not only when a blatant breach of IHL has been ruled on by a court, but when the spirit of IHL is being eroded. …
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Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, stating it consistently calls on all parties to comply with IHL and observe robust standards without differentiation. It clarifies that it cannot provide a running commentary on possible breaches due to lack of detailed information to determine IHL violations.
Conclusions (6)
1
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Numbers of aid worker deaths are rising year on year and the situations where access to aid is deliberately impeded are also increasing. This violates the purpose of IHL: to protect civilians in a time of war. We see growing examples of where IHL is ignored or used to justify …
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's concerns regarding rising aid worker deaths, restrictions on humanitarian access, and IHL violations, affirming that IHL must be respected and all tools leveraged to address these issues.
13
Conclusion
Acknowledged
At the international level, the International Criminal Court provides a forum for holding states and individuals, respectively, accountable for breaches of IHL. (Conclusion, Paragraph 35)
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the conclusion, affirming its full commitment to international law and respect for the independence of the ICJ and ICC. It reiterates its strong support for the ICC through multilateral engagement and by encouraging states to become parties to the Rome Statute.
15
Conclusion
Acknowledged
We welcome the times that the Government has made a stand on the likely breaches of IHL that have reduced access of populations to aid and/or have failed to protect those delivering aid. We also welcome the more general calls for the protection of aid workers. However, the lack of …
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, stating it consistently calls on all parties to comply with IHL without differentiation and engages with partners to address reported violations. It clarifies that it cannot provide a running commentary on possible breaches due to lack of detailed information.
34
Conclusion
Acknowledged
It has never been more dangerous to be a humanitarian aid worker. These workers put their lives on the line every day to protect others. Aid workers suffer direct intimidation and attacks in the field, as well as the impact of vicarious trauma through the processing of media. The disregard …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the increased risks to humanitarian personnel and reaffirms its commitment to championing aid worker protection through ongoing initiatives, including the proposed Australia-led Declaration.
35
Conclusion
Acknowledged
The safety of aid workers and aid delivery is further hampered by the spread of malicious disinformation online and in other forms of media. (Conclusion, Paragraph 71)
Government Response Summary
The government agrees that malicious disinformation threatens aid worker safety, highlighting the BBC World Service's role and describing FCDO's existing efforts to counter foreign information manipulation, including a recent programme in Sudan.
37
Conclusion
Acknowledged
While it is important that the UK’s aid, trade, defence and diplomacy objectives are coherent, there is a risk that overly-politicised humanitarian responses can make the safe delivery of UK-funded support difficult. (Conclusion, Paragraph 73)
Government Response Summary
The government agrees that humanitarian aid must be impartial, outlining its current approach to ensure principled aid delivery through strong partnerships, coherent diplomatic action, new humanitarian diplomacy training, and a humanitarian allocation model.