18 August, 2026

: Know Your Rights: Legal Factsheets for Aid Workers

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Know Your Rights: Legal Factsheets for Aid Workers

In recent years, aid workers have faced an alarming increase in targeted attacks, violence, arbitrary detention, and other violations of their rights while carrying out their life-saving work. As conflicts worldwide become more protracted and humanitarian space continues to shrink, aid workers are more and more exposed to legal and security risks simply for providing assistance to people in need.

Understanding the legal protection tools available to humanitarian workers has never been more important. To ensure humanitarian personnel can access the relevant legal resources and support they need, Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) has developed a series of practical factsheets that provide accessible legal information on key issues they may encounter in the course of their work. The factsheets explain fundamental rights, outline available legal protections, and offer practical guidance on how to respond when violations occur.

Factsheets on Detention, Documentation, Fair trials rights, Legal Definitions and Legal Response are available in five languages. Download to learn more about legal protections available to aid workers.

Detention

LAW – Detention – English

LAW – Detention – Ukrainian

LAW – Detention – French

LAW – Detention – Arabic

LAW – Detention – Burmese

Documentation

LAW – Documentation – English

LAW – Documentation – Ukrainian

LAW – Documentation – French

LAW – Documentation – Arabic

LAW – Documentation – Burmese