International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members
March 25 is the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members. This date is the anniversary of the abduction of Alec Collett, a journalist who died while working for the UN.
What Do People Do
The UN promotes the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members to encourage governments to do more in their power to protect UN personnel in their jobs.
The day is also a moment to remember UN personnel who have been abducted whilst doing their job, such as journalist Alec Collett. Collett worked for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East when he was abducted by armed gunman in on March 25, 1985. His body was found in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley in 2009 and eventually returned to his family.
Public Life
The International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members is a UN observance and not a public holiday
Background
Over the years, many UN personnel have been kidnapped while working for the UN and many more continue to face threats to their freedom and security. According to the UN’s Department of Safety and Security, at least 28 UN civilian personnel were detained or arrested in 2010 in cases that were considered job-related.
The UN’s International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members was created to bring awareness to these kidnappings and to call for governments and communities to protect UN workers.
International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members Observances
| Weekday | Date | Year | Name | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu | Mar 25 | 2010 | International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members | United Nations observance |
| Fri | Mar 25 | 2011 | International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members | United Nations observance |
| Sun | Mar 25 | 2012 | International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members | United Nations observance |
| Mon | Mar 25 | 2013 | International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members | United Nations observance |
| Tue | Mar 25 | 2014 | International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members | United Nations observance |
| Wed | Mar 25 | 2015 | International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members | United Nations observance |
| Fri | Mar 25 | 2016 | International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members | United Nations observance |
| Sat | Mar 25 | 2017 | International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members | United Nations observance |
| Sun | Mar 25 | 2018 | International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members | United Nations observance |
| Mon | Mar 25 | 2019 | International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members | United Nations observance |
| Wed | Mar 25 | 2020 | International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members | United Nations observance |
BEAUTIFUL, ALSO, ARE THE SOULS OF MY BLACK SISTERS 