The Google Dictionary defines the term Humanitarian as “concerned with or seeking to promote human welfare.”  World Humanitarian Day Is held on August 19 to honor those people who have sacrificed for this goal. “The day is commemorated with fundraisers for relief organizations, lectures, and a variety of events to increase awareness for those living in crisis,” according to www.nationaldaycalendar.com.

Each year, the United Nations focuses on a different theme. In 2019, they focused on women humanitarians while they focused on workers in the field in 2010. A lot of data about what the United Nations has done over the years, and particularly this year, can be found at un.org.

World Humanitarian Day is a great introduction for some other themed days over the following week. The International Day of Remembrance & Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, for instance, is recognized on August 21. That is followed by the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religious Beliefs on August 22. We as Americans are familiar with freedoms, but humanitarians around the world have to address the inequities that impact religious beliefs around the world. Finally, the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is recognized on August 23. We often believe that slavery is over, but many recognize the perils of less formal slavery, like the trafficking of women and children and the abuses found in sweatshops around the world.

It is the role of humanitarians to try to improve and impact the situations of those who are legitimately victims and they see ways to do that benefit society and help to change the system. Humanitarians are active participants in world change, rather than passive observers and World Humanitarian Day attempts to recognize those individuals and their work.