United Nations Headquarters, New York, October 03, 2024 – On September 30, 2024, Hostage Aid’s President Nizar Zakka welcomed UN Secretary-General António Guterres to the UNGA79 Side Event on Countering Hostage-Taking organized by Hostage Aid in partnership with the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights in New York. After delivering his speech, Mr. Guterres was presented with a token of recognition and appreciation for his steadfast support for a wider UN role in countering hostage-taking and his cooperation to amend the 1979 International Convention against the Taking of Hostages.

Mr. Guterres, the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations, took office on 1st January 2017. Having witnessed the suffering of the most vulnerable people on earth, from refugee camps to war zones, the Secretary-General has centered his efforts on ensuring human dignity for all. 

In his speech, Guterres stressed that to take hostages is absolutely intolerant. It is a violation of international humanitarian law. But more than that, it is something absolutely unacceptable, from any point of view. And in all situations, hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally.

Having met some of the families of hostages held in Gaza, the Secretary-General stated that his position has always been very clear: all hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally. He added that he has been following up with mediators who have been working on the release of these hostages, as well as expressed his solidarity with all those taken captive anywhere around the world.

We express our gratitude to Secretary-General Guterres for his commitment and urge him to spearhead a coordinated global initiative to combat the increasing threat of hostage-taking.