On October 15, 2026, the International Conference on the Protection of Humanitarian Workers was held in Brussels, featuring a speech by Hadja Lakhbib, European Commission Commissioner for Crisis Management and Humanitarian Aid. In her address, she emphasized that she has spent much of her professional life moving from one crisis to another—first as a journalist, then as foreign minister, and now as a EU commissioner overseeing humanitarian affairs. The speech focused on the safety of humanitarian organization personnel working in zones of armed conflict and natural disasters around the world. Lakhbib drew the conference participants' attention to the growing risks faced by humanitarian workers in carrying out their missions and to the need for strengthening international mechanisms for their protection. The conference brought together representatives of international organizations, governments, and humanitarian structures to discuss ways to improve the safety of personnel involved in providing assistance to populations affected by conflicts and disasters. The European Commission, as one of the world's largest donors of humanitarian aid, advocates for stronger coordination among countries and organizations on protecting those who work directly in crisis zones.